DeKalb CEO: Water Crisis a Top Issue in 2017 Budget

DECATUR, GA -- DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond's proposed operating budget aims to make good on the campaign promise he made last year, namely solving the water billing crisis that has dogged residents for months now.

The $1.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2017, released Tuesday, begins in earnest the vision that Thurmond set out to accomplish for DeKalb County.

“This budget provides a framework for strengthening the government’s fiscal condition, improving public safety, annualizing the fiscal year 2016 pay and compensation increases and funding various infrastructure and capital improvements,” Thurmond said in a news release. “By proactively managing our resources, we will be able to maintain a projected $50.1 million fund balance, which equals one month’s operating revenue.”

On the top of everybody's list though are high water bills, which the two previous county CEOs -- Burrell Ellis and interim leader Lee May -- failed to fully get a handle on.

Thurmond said that his budget will tackle the water bill issues along with two other main areas of consternation for DeKalb residents: blighted properties and unemployment.

“We will inform the Board of Commissioners and the public of the results of our internal evaluations and analysis of current and past efforts,” Thurmond said.

Here are other items included in the fiscal year 2017 proposed budget:

· $17.2 million in pay raises.

· $2.1 million for 20 police positions and 36 fire rescue personnel along with $600,000 for body cameras.

· $4 million for road resurfacing.

· $5.4 million for the Tobie Grant Intergenerational Center, $400,000 for Ellenwood Park and $100,000 for the Lou Walker Senior Center.

· $1.4 million toward the new animal services facility.

· $983,000 for park maintenance.

The budget must be approved by the Board of Commissioners by the end of February before it becomes final, the county said.

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