The Atlanta Police Department is on track to receive its largest general fund budget ever if Mayor Dickens' proposed spending plan goes through. Capital B Atlanta reports the fiscal 2027 budget includes a $324.4 million allocation for APD, up 5.37% from the current year's already record amount.
The $16.5 million increase is part of a broader nearly $3.2 billion budget proposal, the city's largest ever. Public safety departments were among the first to present their proposals to City Council this month. The increase continues a long-running trend: state and local spending on police has been rising for decades across the country, and Atlanta is no exception.
Also seeing increased funding is the Atlanta Citizens Review Board, the civilian body that investigates citizen complaints and misconduct allegations against police. The board was founded in 2007 after police killed 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in her home during an illegal no-knock warrant. The board gained subpoena power in 2010 and came under scrutiny last year after an AJC investigation revealed investigative backlogs.
Each city department will present budget proposals to City Council throughout the month before final adoption.
