Dunwoody Ga Budget 9-15-26

Dunwoody releases Proposed FY2026 Budget Post Date:09/03/2025 

Dunwoody, GA – September 3, 2025 – The City of Dunwoody has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operating and Capital Budget, a $70.5 million plan with a focus on public safety and customer service, while maintaining strong financial reserves. The FY2026 Proposed Budget represents a 0.2% decrease from the amended FY2025 budget, reflecting disciplined spending and long-term fiscal stewardship.

The proposed budget, presented by Mayor Lynn Deutsch and City Manager Eric Linton, will be presented and discussed during a Special Called Dunwoody City Council Meeting on Monday, September 29, at 10 a.m. at Dunwoody City Hall (4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road). This will be followed by two required public hearings before final adoption later this fall.

“The City remains in a strong financial position as it heads into FY2026, with a focus on staying adaptable for the future,” wrote Mayor Deutsch and Mr. Linton in their budget letter. “Historical stewardship of funds has placed the City in a strong position as it moves forward. This budget has been developed using all information, data, and tools available at this time, but with the understanding that budgets are dynamic.”

Key Highlights of the FY2026 Proposed Budget include the following:

·       $38.0 million General Fund – a 2.71% increase, primarily for employee compensation, benefits, contract escalations, and maintenance/utility costs.

·       Public Safety Investment – Police Department funding of $14.5 million, supporting personnel, technology, and operational needs.

·       Infrastructure & Public Works – $21.0 million in combined funding, including SPLOST and grants, to advance road, stormwater, and capital improvement projects.

·       Parks & Recreation – Nearly $9.6 million allocated for facilities, programs, and capital improvements to enhance quality of life.

·       Strong Reserves – Maintains over six months of fund balance, exceeding the City Charter’s four-month reserve requirement to ensure stability in emergencies.

·       Hotel/Motel Tax Revenue – Projected at $5.9 million, a 3% increase reflecting high hotel occupancy rates.

The FY2026 Proposed Budget is available for public review on the City’s website using this link. Public hearings will be held on October 14 and October 27 at 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall.

https://www.dunwoodyga.gov/Home/Components/News/

Comments

When the City of Dunwoody was founded in 2009, the City Council sought to reduce the number of apartments. Now in 2025, 45% of the population lives in apartments.

Dunwoody Ga is a 13 sq mile City with a population of 50,000.  55% of the population lives in single family homes in subdivisions and townhouse clusters.  45% of the population lives in apartment rental units. The City of Dunwoody Ga was created and established in 2009. Dunwoody had been an unincorporated part of DeKalb County. Dunwoody also includes parts of Perimeter Mall that includes a MARTA station with rail service south to Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Dunwoody offers a unique location with access to I-285, that tightly encircles the immediate Atlanta Metro. It is also close to GA-400 that runs from Atlanta to the northern exurbs. Dunwoody sits due north above Atlanta and has easy access to the East and West of the surrounding counties.

In 1983, when I moved my family to the Atlanta Area, the population of Atlanta Metro was 3 million. Now it’s 6 million and I-75 and I-85 are choked with interstate truck traffic.  Now in 2025, our home is still convenient to drive short distances to our grocery stores and doctor’s offices. 

My priority for city spending is targeted to Infrastructure and Public Works that includes Road and Storm Drain Maintenance. Our parks are adequate and our police force is adequate to include Perimeter Mall. 

I formed the Dunwoody Ga Tea Party in 2010 to oppose UN Agenda 21 implementation..

I opposed Park Bonds to fund unnecessary new parks in 2010 and won.

I opposed the 2012 TSPLOST, an $18 billion State-Wide initiative that didn’t fix Atlanta Metro congestion and won.

I opposed the 2012 expansion of the MARTA train system and won.

I was appointed to the “Community Council in 2013 and was voted to Chair this 7-member group. We were the first hearing body to review new construction permit issues.

I supported the creation of new subdivisions with single-family homes in 2013 and won.

I opposed bike lanes and 12-foot multi-use paths that seize single-family easements in 2013 and this issue is on-going.

In the 2024 Presidential election in Georgia, Trump won 50.73% and Harris won 48.53%. The Georgia House has 100 Republicans and 80 Democrats. The Georgia Senate has 34 Republicans and 22 Democrats. Democrats represent the large cities. Democrats are also in City Councils of smaller surrounding Cities like Dunwoody.

The Georgia Legislature should require all candidates to include their Resume, Political Party and their Positions on Issues on their Websites.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader