DeKalb County Commissioner Bradshaw proposes timeline change in county’s budgeting process

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—In a recent meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw announced a proposed change to the county’s budgeting process. Bradshaw wants the proposed budget to be submitted to the Board of Commissioners by Sept. 15, instead of Dec. 15 annually to allow more time for the board to review the proposed budget.

This proposal had previously been submitted to the chair of the Charter Review Commission for consideration and Bradshaw is now pushing for the Commission to decide on the matter.

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond issued an executive order on March 25, 2019 for a comprehensive review of the Organizational Act of DeKalb County to ensure that the government of DeKalb County is representative of its citizens and responsive to their needs and demands. The Charter Review Commission is charged with reviewing the Organizational Act, harmonizing its parts, and recommending changes to achieve the best delivery of services to the citizens.

“Since taking office, I have held the view that the current budget process is flawed in that the Board of Commissioners receives the budget proposal from the CEO on Dec. 15 of each year, which is right before the holiday season,” Bradshaw said. “Upon returning after the holidays in early January, the Board of Commissioners then has less than two months to consider a $1.5 billion budget. Additionally, a new fiscal year would have already started without an adopted budget in place.

“These flaws became even more apparent to me when I became chair of the Finance, Audit and Budget Committee earlier this year,” Bradshaw continued. “Since my chairmanship of this committee coincides with the work of the Charter Review Commission, it struck me as the appropriate time to advocate for this change.

“In a nutshell, my proposal calls for the CEO to submit his proposed budget to the Board of Commissioners by Sept. 15 of each year,” Bradshaw said. “Then the Board of Commissioners would have until Dec. 31 to adopt the budget, and we would start the next fiscal year with an adopted budget in place. I am very pleased that the Charter Review Commission has given my proposal serious consideration, and I commend them for their public service. I look forward to seeing their final recommendations.”