Balanced DeKalb Budget Has Surplus, Thurmond Says

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond on Wednesday presented the county's mid-year budget, which he says is balanced and contains a "rainy day" surplus.

The adjusted budget for the county is $1.2 billion and projects an $89 million balance which would go to a "rainy day fund," Thurmond said. That amount would cover about 1.75 months of county operations and Thurmond said he hopes to grow the fund to be able to keep the county running for two months.

In 2018, the gross tax digest of all taxable property in DeKalb County grew 10.7 percent ,or $3 billion — from $28.3 billion in 2017 to $31.3 billion.

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Despite the growth in property values, DeKalb's application of the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax will actually result in lower property taxes for homeowners, Thurmond said.

During the next six years, DeKalb taxpayers will receive an estimated $660 million in property tax relief thanks to the sales taxes, according to Thurmond.

A final vote by the county commission on the mid-year budget is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10.

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