Almost 30 Atlantans showed up to City Hall during a torrential downpour to voice concerns about the proposed city budget, but found mostly empty chairs waiting for them.
Of 15 council members, only Jason Winston, Kelsea Bond, Matt Westmoreland, and Council President Marci Collier Overstreet attended the May 20 community budget session, the public's only dedicated hearing on the $995 million general fund budget for FY 2027.
"Thank you to the four of you who showed up today. I know that most of us didn't come here to speak to a bunch of empty chairs," said resident Steven Imle, before criticizing a $16.5 million increase in police spending.
The Atlanta Police Department is set to receive $324.4 million, making up nearly one-third of the general fund. Meanwhile, residents voiced concerns about a $2.7 million cut to the Parks and Recreation Department budget, which comprises just 5.5% of the general fund at $54.7 million.
"A budget cut to parks is a budget cut to full community transformation," said Coreen Dent, president of a neighborhood organization in Downtown.