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Center for Civic Innovation
@civicatlanta.bsky.social
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Strengthening community understanding, engagement, and power to create bold and transformative policy change in Atlanta.
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This Week in Atlanta is a cumulative effort from the CCI team. Every week, we attend meetings for the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb and Fulton counties, and more. We report that info back in ways that actually make sense. To support this work, go to civicatlanta.org/donate.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(9/9) Mark your calendar! 🗓️🦃
• citycouncil.atlantaga.gov
• voteatl.org
Mark your calendar for upcoming events Atlanta City Council Committee Meetings citycouncil.atlantaga.gov Monday, November 24 * 10:00am – Zoning * 11:00am – Transportation * 2:00pm – Public Safety & Legal Administration Tuesday, November 25 * 10:00am — City Utilities * 11:30am – Community Development & Human Services * 2:00pm – Finance/Executive   Early voting for the December 2 runoff election continues through Wednesday, November 26. voteatl.org   Government offices are closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(8/9) APS’s Budget Commission opened its FY2027 planning cycle, reviewing district-wide parameters ahead of the July 1, 2026 fiscal year. They will reconvene January 15 to review revenue projections and continue allotment discussions. simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/...
APS Budget Commission begins early Fiscal Year 2027 planning The Atlanta Board of Education’s Budget Commission opened its FY2027 planning cycle, reviewing district-wide parameters ahead of the July 1, 2026 fiscal year. Atlanta Public Schools’ Chief Financial Officer walked through the student-based budgeting formula, noting that equity weights — such as grade-level adjustments, English-language-learner (ELL) funding, and gifted weights — are unlikely to change. However, “stability” supports for small schools and schools undergoing rezoning or other transitions are being considered for temporary supplements. Commission members also discussed potential effects of extending Atlanta’s Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) and a recent study on property tax values. The Commission will reconvene January 15 to review revenue projections and continue allotment discussions.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(7/9) Fulton County’s Reparations Task Force presented its 650-page Harm Report to the Board of Commissioners, outlining how public and private institutions and policies have created and reinforced racial inequities since the County’s founding in 1853. fulton.legistar.com/LegislationD...
Fulton County Reparations Task Force delivers Harm Report Fulton County’s Reparations Task Force presented its 650-page Harm Report to the Board of Commissioners, outlining how public and private institutions and policies have created and reinforced racial inequities since the County’s founding in 1853. Using tax, court, jail data, and other archival records, the report details how slavery, convict leasing, chain gangs, land dispossession, and discriminatory taxation led to generational wealth loss. Findings include an estimated $1.78 billion (in today’s dollars) in lost wages for Black prison laborers, and a more-than-double historical tax burden on Black landowners than the burden on White landowners. Commissioners approved extending the Task Force another 12–24 months to prepare a Repair Report outlining recommendations and feasibility analysis.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(6/9) The Fulton County Board of Commissioners reviewed the County’s proposed 2026 operating budget, which includes $1.05 billion for the General Fund — up 6.4% over 2025. fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulto...
Fulton County reviews FY2026 budget proposal The Fulton County Board of Commissioners reviewed the proposed FY2026 operating budget, which includes $1.05 billion for the General Fund — up 6.4% over 2025 — shaped by public safety obligations, personnel costs, and State-mandated services. Major drivers include an additional $27 million for elections and a $12.5 million cost-of-living adjustment (3.45%) for all filled positions. The County expects to maintain a $176 million reserve balance.   While officials describe keeping the 8.87 property tax millage rate “flat,” they anticipate an additional 0.39 mills will be required to comply with federal court orders related to the County’s jails. The Sheriff’s Office has $144.5 million in unfunded budget requests.   Deliberations continue through December ahead of an anticipated final vote in January 2026.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(5/9) Atlanta’s reconstituted Governing Board of the Office of the Inspector General (IG) convened for the first time and received files on 45 active investigations — including ten with substantiated allegations. atlantaciviccircle.org/2025/11/22/a...
New Inspector General board convenes Atlanta’s reconstituted Governing Board of the Office of the Inspector General (IG) convened for the first time, nine months after the former IG and most Board members resigned in protest over interference with the Board’s independence and the Office’s powers. Interim IG LaDawn Blackett delivered case binders outlining 45 active investigations — including ten with substantiated allegations — and 29 that she had administratively closed. Under legislation adopted in February, the seven-member board — currently with four seated members — now determines the final outcome of cases and what becomes public. The City Attorney reiterated that the Office is not intended to pursue criminal inquiries. Blackett argued that the IG has the duty to investigate “potential violations of the city code, state law, and federal law.” The Board next meets on December 18.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(4/9) Invest Atlanta approved a $1.4 million grant from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) to the Atlanta Land Trust (ALT) for construction of 14 permanently affordable homes in the English Avenue neighborhood. go.boarddocs.com/ga/investatl...
Invest Atlanta backs 14 permanently affordable homes in English Avenue Invest Atlanta approved a $1.4 million grant from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) to the Atlanta Land Trust (ALT) for construction of 14 permanently affordable homes in English Avenue. The project includes six duplexes and two single-family houses. To maintain long-term affordability, the nonprofit ALT retains ownership of the land but homebuyers build equity in the house. Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) L leaders expressed concerns about difficulty selling four earlier units. ALT staff said that conditions such as a 60% Area Median Income (AMI) cap and a live/work/learn requirement do not apply to the new homes, and emphasized that units will not be delivered all at once. The Board voted unanimously to approve the grant.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(3/9) The City Council unanimously approved updates to legislation creating the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Commission, accepting Mayor Andre Dickens’s request to accelerate the Commission’s work and clarify which organizations will hold seats. atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Det...
City adjusts reinvestment commission timeline and representation The City Council unanimously approved updates to legislation creating the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) Commission, accepting Mayor Andre Dickens’s request to accelerate the Commission’s work and clarify which organizations will hold seats. The Commission will evaluate implementation of the Mayor’s Initiative, including due diligence on extending Tax Allocation Districts (TADs). The deadline for issuing recommendations shifts from June to March 2026. In addition to representatives for the Mayor, City Council, Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County, and the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board (APAB); the amended legislation now specifies the following groups: Atlanta Committee for Progress, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Arthur M. Blank Foundation, Purpose Built Communities, Westside Future Fund, and Focused Community Strategies.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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(2/9) The Council approved a similar ban in Home Park — just north of Georgia Tech — in August. A more comprehensive, citywide rewrite of the STR ordinance — introduced in December 2024 — remains held in committee. atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Det...
City Council rejects Northeast Atlanta short-term rental ban The Atlanta City Council defeated a proposal from Councilmember Howard Shook to prohibit new short-term rentals (STRs) across District 7. Six members voted in favor – Bond, Bakhtiari, Wan, Shook, Norwood, and Lewis – but eight votes are needed to adopt. The Council approved a similar ban in Home Park — just north of Georgia Tech — in August, but the Northeast Atlanta legislation lacked similar support from the affected Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) and the Zoning Review Board. A more comprehensive, citywide rewrite of the STR ordinance — introduced in December 2024 — remains held in committee. That version, supported by the Dickens administration, would impose a 1,000-foot spacing requirement and limit multifamily buildings to no more than 10% STR units.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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Today’s funding proposal was primarily for duplexes. go.boarddocs.com/ga/investatl...
November 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
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Also, the Board aims to finalize its list of pre-approved consultants for development and financial advising services.
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
This Week in Atlanta is a cumulative effort from the CCI team. Every week, we attend meetings for the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb and Fulton counties, and more. We report that info back in ways that actually make sense. To support this work, go to civicatlanta.org/donate.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
(10/10) Mark your calendar! 🗓️
• citycouncil.atlantaga.gov
• dekalbcountyga.legistar.com
• fulton.legistar.com
• investatlanta.com
• atloig.org
Mark your calendar for upcoming events Monday, November 17 * 1:00pm — Atlanta City Council meeting — citycouncil.atlantaga.gov   Tuesday, November 18 * 9:00am — DeKalb County Board of Commissioners meeting — dekalbcountyga.legistar.com   Wednesday, November 19 * 10:00am — Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting — fulton.legistar.com   Thursday, November 20 * 9:00am — Invest Atlanta Board of Directors meeting — investatlanta.com * 6:00pm — Governing Board of the Office of the Inspector General meeting — atloig.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(9/10) The School Board’s Policy Review Committee reviewed revisions to its electronic device usage policy for students — prohibiting access to devices during the school day — to align with new State requirements. simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031014&MID=130571
School Board reviews updates to student electronic device policy The Atlanta Board of Education’s Policy Review Committee reviewed revisions to its electronic device usage policy for students to align with new State requirements. The draft expands the policy beyond cell phones to explicitly include smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, and other devices that can be used for internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media, or data transmission. While the new State law prohibits accessing such devices during the school day for students through the 8th grade, the School Board’s proposed policy would apply to all grades and also apply on school buses. Committee members discussed how the policy’s prohibitions apply in emergency situations. The revised policy will be on the School Board’s December meeting agenda.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(8/10) The School Board's Policy Review Committee reviewed APS's attendance zone policy, seeking “to provide educationally sound and cost-effective schools located as near to students’ homes as possible.” simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031014&MID=130571
APS committee finalizes updates to school attendance zones policy The Atlanta Board of Education’s Policy Review Committee reviewed final revisions to its policy that guides how the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) sets and adjusts school attendance zone boundaries. The policy states the Board “seeks to provide educationally sound and cost-effective schools located as near to students' homes as possible.” The revisions aim to ensure that schools have enough students to support academic, enrichment, and support programs, but it does not establish a minimum enrollment requirement. The policy moves forward for final approval at the School Board’s December 3 meeting, along with the Comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Plan that recommends the closure or “repurposing” of 16 schools to save an estimated $25 million annually.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(7/10) HUD announced that most of its $3.9B in homelessness funds will move away from a “Housing First” approach towards transitional housing and programs that prioritize work and drug treatment requirements. politico.com/news/2025/11/13/trump-cuts-homeless-housing-program-00650758
Federal housing agency to restructure homeless-services program The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued notice on Thursday of a significant change to its annual grants under the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, which funds housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. HUD’s plan directs most of its $3.9 billion in homelessness funds away from Housing First — an approach that prioritizes permanent housing as quickly as possible followed by other supportive services — towards transitional housing and programs that prioritize work and drug treatment requirements. Under the new revision, only about 30% of CoC funding may be directed toward permanent housing. In 2024, the Atlanta CoC was awarded a total of $14.5 million in HUD grants, with 82% funding permanent housing.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(6/10) The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved the creation of an Affordable Housing Fund and the implementation of a “blight tax.” decaturish.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-county-commission-creates-affordable-housing-fund/article_451a6bee-9103-411e-b516-3f7b00d033de.html
DeKalb Commissioners create affordable housing fund and adopt blight tax The DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved two measures on Monday aimed at expanding affordable housing and addressing deteriorated properties. The Board established an Affordable Housing Fund, starting at 1% of the County’s general fund revenue in 2026 and growing to at least 2% by 2028, to support initiatives such as the creation of housing to serve households earning 30–60% of area median income (AMI). The legislation calls on County staff to host at least two public listening sessions before drafting program guidelines by January 2026 and opening the program in July 2026. Commissioners also adopted a “blight tax” allowing officially designated blighted properties to be taxed at up to ten times the standard property tax rate. Atlanta adopted a similar ordinance in August 2024.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM