The Atlanta City Council voted 13-1 for the $607 million Fiscal Year 2017 budget recommended by Mayor Kasim Reed. The City’s total budget including both operational and enterprise funds is $2.02 billion. As the City emerges from the worst economic downturn in eighty years, it will not tap into its reserve fund to balance the fiscal year 2017 budget. 

The budget prioritizes investments in infrastructure, public safety and recreational facilities. Key investments include: $6 million in infrastructure maintenance ($12 million since FY 2015) - an investment that will improve the city’s roads, bridges, sidewalks and upgrade critical public buildings and facilities, $12.5 million in compensation increases for public safety employees, including Sergeants, Lieutenants and rank and file officers in the Atlanta Police Department and mid-career officers in the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, and over $400,000 for park maintenance and the launch of the City’s first Comprehensive Center for Fathers. In his 2016 State of the City Address, Mayor Reed announced the launch of the Fatherhood Center, an initiative that will mentor young men, help them grow their strengths in parenting and other life skills, and offer individual counseling and job services. 

“This budget demonstrates that the actions taken in the last seven years under my administration to restore the City’s financial health and become a fiscally accountable and strong city are working,” said Mayor Reed. “This budget also shows our commitment to being a world-class, effective and efficient government. During this fiscal year, we will continue to make significant investments in our city’s infrastructure and public safety agencies, as well as resources for our city’s children and families.”

Other highlights of the Fiscal Year 2017 budget include a savings of $26 million in new priority investments recommended by the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Waste & Efficiency in Government:

• A $1 million reduction of worker’s compensation claims due to rollout of programs including Drivecam;
• $3.6 million in revenue from implementation of new fees and fines schedule and;
• Funding for pay disparity study that will guide the City’s equal pay legislation.

“Under Mayor Reed’s leadership, we have worked diligently to produce a fiscally prudent budget that makes critical investments in infrastructure improvements and improved city services for our residents,” said Chief Financial Officer Jim Beard. “I am proud to say that we are funding these investments through cost savings without the need to tap into our reserve funds. The city’s strong fiscal management has resulted in seven consecutive credit ratings upgrades.”

Since fiscal year 2010, the City has passed seven consecutive balanced budgets, earned bond rating upgrades across all the City’s funds and increased cash reserves from $7.4 million to $151 million, all without imposing property tax increases on Atlanta residents.