Dunwoody city staff presented its proposed $70 million 2025 budget to the city council that reflects a 5.29% increase over 2024.
According to a report presented at the Oct. 15 meeting 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 feneral fund and to keep the projected end-of-the-year general fund 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 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 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 public hearing.
The council also held a public hearing for a Special Land Use Permit in order to build a Starbucks coffee shop with a drive-through lane at 140 Perimeter Center West. The city’s planning commission recommended its passage at its August meeting.
In other action, the council:
- Swore in and welcomed a new police officer, Connor Wood, to the force;
- Heard in Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton’s monthly report that a request for proposals for a mural at Brook Run’s Skate Park has opened. The proposal – a call to artists for production of large-scale murals for the 2025 Black History Month – will close November 14. The project budget has increased from $10,000 to $15,000;
- Approved $1.7 million in storm water funds for a stream and wetlands improvement project at Dunwoody Nature Center. The bid contains a 12% contingency;
- Learned about the city’s Great Cleanup event on Nov. 2. Volunteers can do their own project or join the Dunwoody Nature Center’s efforts.
