About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2024)
City passes $70 million ‘no-frills’ budget for 2025 By Cathy Cobbs The Dunwoody City Council unanimously passed a proposed $70 million “no-frills” budget for 2025 that reflects a 5.29% increase over 2024. According to reports presented at the Oct. 15 and Oct. 28 meetings by Richard Platto, the city’s finance director, Dunwoody remains in a strong financial position as it heads into fiscal year 2025. “Staff approached developing the 2025 budget with two guiding parameters — to minimize the use of fund balance within the general fund and to keep the projected end-of-the-year general fund balance [reserve] over six months,” the report said. Platto said the last three year’s estimates indicated that the city would have to dip into the general fund to balance the budget, but because revenues exceeded projections and expenditures were lower than expected, it wasn’t necessary. However, the 2025 budget, with revenues growing at about 2.4% and expenditures projected to be 6.7%, may force the city to dip into reserves, Platto said. The city would still have a healthy reserve balance of more than six months, even if the funds were needed to balance the budget. In addition, he said, there are non city revenues totaling about $2 million for expenditures that will not be funded beyond 2025, so alternative funding sources will have to be found if those services are to continue. The city’s largest expense, its police force, remains at the top of its projected expenditures, about $17 million, which includes non-city contributions like Special Purpose Local Sales Tax revenues. The 2025 budget includes an increase in police personnel from 78 to 87 and 4% raises for city employees. Dunwoody Councilman Tom Lambert at the Oct. 15 meeting addressed public concerns aired on social media and in local publications the perception that there is “out-of-control spending with the city council.” “That is not the reality,” he said. “Despite what the public says, we have not ended with a deficit, in fact we have always ended with a surplus.” Nobody spoke either in support or against the proposed budget at the Oct. 15 or Oct. 28 public hearing. Seeking nominations of students for our 16th Annual 20 Under 20 issue. Here's the information we need: ■ Nominator (name, relationship to nominee and contact information) ■ Nominee (Name, age, grade, school, parent or guardian names, contact information) ■ Characteristics and service: Please provide a paragraph describing why this nominee deserves recognition. Include service projects, goals, and areas of interest. ■ A high resolution photograph (1MB in size or more) of the student in any setting. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 15,2024 Submit nominations and photos to collin@roughdraftatlanta.com. Broughtto November 17 YouB v 2-6pm DHA Shops of Dunwoody 55 serving since 1970 Annual Tree and Menorah Lighting Festival 5468 Chamblee Dunwoody Road Photos with Santa Arts and Crafts Entertainment Dance and Musical Performances GOLD SPONSORS EEPEVENTS RoughDraft atlanta It’s not special treatment. It’s called service. Lisa Torres Sk State Farm SILVER SPONSORS Piedmont POUTHII ROW BRONZE SPONSORS Chopt Creative Salad Co. Dunwoody Christian School Follow us on Instagram! @lightupdunwoody_official Special thanks to Brand Real Estate Services and Spruill Center for the Arts ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM NOVEMBER 2024 | 13
