Brookhaven / Chamblee: Tax Rates, Rats, and Road Work

Hello, Brookhaven and Chamblee! It's a week of news to pay attention to, especially if you own property. Millage rate hearings are happening across the city, county, and school board levels all at once, meaning the decisions made in the next few weeks will directly shape your tax bills. Also making news: a former Chamblee IRS employee is going public with some genuinely alarming claims about rodents at one of the area's largest federal workplaces.

- News — A DeKalb schools sales tax vote is taking shape, the DA is suing over nonpartisan elections, and a Chamblee IRS worker says rats drove her out the door.
- Events — The Chamblee Rocks Juneteenth Concert is Friday night at City Hall — free, festive, and worth arriving early — plus a Springsteen tribute at Blackburn Park the same night.
- Government — It's a millage rate gauntlet this week: Brookhaven, Chamblee, and the DeKalb school board are all holding public hearings on property taxes, and Chamblee has a loaded zoning agenda Thursday night.
- Construction — A $500K mikvah breaks ground on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, three office suites at 3630 Peachtree are signaling new tenants ahead, and SR-13 resurfacing is actively disrupting commutes between the Fulton County line and Chamblee Tucker Road.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

DeKalb Schools prepares vote on sales tax, bonding authority
The DeKalb County School District is gearing up for a major vote on extending its sales tax and expanding bonding authority — decisions that will shape school infrastructure for years to come. For Brookhaven and Chamblee families, this is one of the most consequential education finance questions on the local horizon, touching everything from classroom renovations to long-term capital planning.

DeKalb DA files lawsuit against nonpartisan elections law
District Attorney Sherry Boston is taking the state to court over a new law that would strip party labels from local elections in several metro Atlanta counties, including DeKalb. How this legal fight lands could fundamentally change the way residents here vote in future county and municipal races.

Former Chamblee IRS employee says severe rat problem led to resignation
A former employee at the Chamblee IRS campus has gone public with claims that an uncontrolled rodent infestation drove them to quit — and federal unions are now involved. It's a troubling situation at one of Chamblee's largest workplaces, and it raises real questions about whether federal property managers are keeping up with basic facility standards.

Public art grows in Brookhaven gardens
Brookhaven's public and community gardens are getting a creative upgrade, with new art installations turning green spaces into something worth lingering in. It's a quiet but genuinely nice development for a neighborhood that has invested steadily in making its outdoor spaces feel like destinations, not just shortcuts.

Atlanta World Cup Mobilizes MARTA Stations Renovation
The World Cup is doing what years of advocacy sometimes couldn't — pushing MARTA to accelerate real station renovations across the system (including Brookhaven station). Local riders should expect meaningful changes to accessibility and infrastructure as the upgrades roll out ahead of match days.

Where to watch the World Cup around Atlanta
The wait is over — the World Cup is here, and Atlanta is one of the host cities at the center of it all. Whether you're a devoted soccer fan or just ready for an excuse to be somewhere loud and festive, Atlanta Magazine has mapped out the best spots in the city to soak it in.

EVENTS | Presented by

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The Chamblee Rocks: Juneteenth Concert at Chamblee City Hall kicks off Friday night — a free outdoor celebration of culture, community, and music that's become one of the neighborhood's most anticipated early-summer traditions. Plan ahead if you're heading to the City Hall area, as the event draws a solid crowd and parking fills up fast.

Monday, June 8
- Julia Knight Art Exhibition: Meditations | Chamblee Library
- Adult Take & Make Craft | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Fossil Frenzy Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Future Stars Soccer Academy - Week 2 | Oglethorpe University

Tuesday, June 9
- Family Storytime | Brookhaven Branch Library

Wednesday, June 10
- Songs and Stories with Mr. Adam | Brookhaven Branch Library
- INTENNSE Tennis 2026 Season - Week 1 Exclusive Sale | Assembly Studios Gate 2

Thursday, June 11
- The Cake | Merely Players Presents
- Chair Yoga for Adults | Chamblee, GA

Friday, June 12
- Chamblee Rocks: Juneteenth Concert | Chamblee City Hall
- Food Truck Fridays | Blackburn Park
- Gimme Springsteen | Blackburn Park
- The Cake - On Stage June 4-14 | Merely Players Presents
- Summer Kick Off at Shops Around Lenox | Shops Around Lenox

Saturday, June 13
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven | Central Bark Brookhaven
- The Cake - On Stage June 4-14 | Merely Players Presents
- House of Tarot - Atlanta Workshops and Show | Atlanta Fusion Belly Dance
- WOLFMOTHER - 20th Anniversary Tour | Buckhead Theatre

Sunday, June 14
- STAMPED: AYA x Friends - ATLANTA - Amapiano, Afrobeats & more | BLOCK & DRUM
- Big League Wiffle Ball Regular Season (June 14th) | Assembly Studios Gate 2

GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

City of Chamblee Public Hearing

Chamblee held a public hearing on June 4 focused on one item with a direct impact on property owners: the city's 2026 millage rate, the tax rate used to calculate annual city property tax bills. Residents were given the opportunity to comment before the mayor and council held a discussion on the proposed rate. Because minutes have not yet been posted, it is not known whether the council voted to set the rate, or whether the item was deferred — items on an agenda may be tabled or otherwise not acted upon. Property owners should watch for the official outcome, as any change to the millage rate will affect what they owe in city taxes this year.

Brookhaven Planning Commission

The Brookhaven Planning Commission held both a work session and a regular meeting on June 3, wrapping up with a split result: one item approved, two deferred. On the approval side, the commission voted 4-0 to pass TA26-07, an ordinance updating administrative procedures for how the city conducts zoning reviews — a behind-the-scenes change that shapes how future development applications get processed. The commission also voted 4-0 to defer two items with more direct impact on homeowners: TA26-01, which proposes updates to "Household Living" regulations governing residential definitions and living arrangements, and TA26-02, which deals with rules for nonconforming structures — older homes or land uses that don't meet current zoning standards but are grandfathered in. Both deferred items are now scheduled to return for a vote on August 5, 2026, giving residents additional time to review the proposals and weigh in before any decision is made.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole

DeKalb County's Committee of the Whole met June 2 and advanced a packed slate of major infrastructure and budget items to the full Board of Commissioners for final action. The headline item was a $325.5 million multi-year emergency contract — split among six vendors — for countywide water and sewer repairs and replacements, a massive investment that speaks to the ongoing strain on the county's aging utility infrastructure. The committee also forwarded a $20.6 million contract for construction management of the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion, a $29.8 million payment to the City of Atlanta for joint capital improvement projects spanning 2021 through 2025, and a proposal to hold a public hearing on extending the county's existing moratorium on new data centers — giving residents a future opportunity to formally comment on those facilities. On the consent agenda, district-level items included $50,000 to the Atlanta Humane Society for mobile veterinary services, funding for a potential park land acquisition study, $40,000 for a professional development program serving individuals transitioning to day centers, and nearly $10,000 for kudzu removal and community naturalist walks.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School Board met twice on June 1, using both sessions as public-facing forums on major upcoming financial decisions rather than voting sessions. In a brief called meeting, the board received a formal presentation on the E-SPLOST VII resolution — the next installment of the county's Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which funds school construction, technology upgrades, and facility renovations through a local sales tax — though no vote was recorded. A second called meeting the same day featured the district's first budget presentation and first millage rate hearing, each paired with a community input session so residents could weigh in before any numbers are finalized. No budget was adopted and no millage rate was set at either session; these were opening rounds in a process that will continue with additional hearings and eventual votes. Homeowners should pay close attention as the process advances, since both the E-SPLOST and the school millage rate directly affect what residents pay in county taxes.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, June 9 at 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 9 at 9:00 AM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Work Session — Tuesday, June 9 at 4:30 PM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Public Hearing — Tuesday, June 9 at 4:30 PM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Work Session — Tuesday, June 9 at 5:00 PM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Regular — Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 PM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Regular and Public Hearing — Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 PM. Finance Director Oscar Medina is scheduled to present proposed FY 2026 millage rates at the first official public hearing — a key moment for homeowners tracking their annual property tax bills. Public Works Deputy Director Tom Roberts will also present a priority rehabilitation plan for the city's stormwater drainage system, outlining which areas are targeted for high-priority repairs to improve flood mitigation across Brookhaven.
- City of Brookhaven — Arts and Culture Commission Regular — Wednesday, June 10 at 5:30 PM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 PM
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Thursday, June 11. The board is scheduled to hold its second public hearing on the district's proposed millage rate, giving residents another opportunity to weigh in before any final property tax rate is set.
- City of Chamblee — City Council Public Hearing — Thursday, June 11 at 11:30 AM. The council will hold a dedicated public hearing on Chamblee's proposed 2026 millage rate, giving property owners a formal opportunity to comment before any tax rate is adopted.
- City of Chamblee — City Council Public Hearing & Work Session — Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 PM. The council is scheduled to consider setting 2026 millage rates for the city's general fund, the Downtown and Dresden Plaster Special Services Districts, and the General Obligation Bond — decisions that will directly affect property tax bills across Chamblee. Several significant zoning and development cases are also on the agenda, including public hearings for a property at 3392 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. and a multi-parcel tract at 3515 London Rd., 3468 Keswick Dr., and 3535 Ashton Woods Dr., along with staff action votes on cases at 1900 and 1901 Century Blvd. and 5037 Peachtree Rd.
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, June 15

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Permits

- 3630 Peachtree Rd NE — Multiple commercial alteration permits accepted for second-generation build-outs in vacant suites of a multi-story office building. Three separate filings suggest a landlord actively working to fill empty space — watch this address for new tenants coming soon.
- 4276 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd — $500K new construction permitted for a mikvah building at Chabad Israeli Center Atlanta / Congregation Beit Reuven. A significant institutional investment in the Chamblee corridor.
- 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE — Commercial miscellaneous permit accepted for accessibility improvements: new sidewalk, raised ramp, and upper-floor deck connection. Routine on paper, but signals someone is putting real money into this property.
- 1825 Century Blvd NE, Ste 300 — Installation of a new FM-200 fire suppression system on the third floor. Behind-the-scenes infrastructure work, likely tied to a new tenant buildout.
- 5520 Peachtree Rd — Mixed-use permit filed, status closed. Details are thin, but mixed-use activity on Peachtree is always worth tracking.

Beyond that, the week's remaining 79 permits were routine — zoning filings, property maintenance, occupational tax certificates, and vehicle permits, totaling roughly $8,700 in estimated value.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-13 Resurfacing (DeKalb County) — Active resurfacing work is underway on SR-13 from the Fulton County line to Chamblee Tucker Road. The road's pavement rating had dropped enough to trigger this project, so expect lane disruptions along this stretch until work wraps up. If SR-13 is part of your daily routine, give yourself extra time or find an alternate.
- ATMS Signal Optimization on Peachtree Industrial Blvd (DeKalb County) — Signal timing and systems upgrades are active along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between Peachtree Road and New Peachtree Road. The work is aimed at improving traffic flow long-term, but short-term you may notice equipment, crews, or signal irregularities along this 1.1-mile corridor.
- Ashford-Dunwoody Road EB Ramp at I-285 (DeKalb County) — A third lane is being added to the eastbound on-ramp where Ashford-Dunwoody Road meets I-285 northbound. The extra lane is designed to ease the backup that regularly builds here. Construction is active, so expect some tightening of the ramp area in the near term before conditions improve.

Pre-Construction

- Ashford Dunwoody Road at Windsor Parkway Intersection Improvement — Safety and operational upgrades are planned for this busy intersection. No construction timeline yet, but this one's fully funded and in the pipeline.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension — A new shared-use path will run from Pierce Drive north to Peachtree Boulevard, then follow Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Good news for cyclists and pedestrians in Chamblee when it finally gets underway.
- Shallowford Road Bike/Ped Improvements (New Peachtree to Chamblee Dunwoody) — A 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side are planned for this 0.74-mile stretch. Modest in scale, but a meaningful addition for anyone walking or biking this corridor.
- SR-141 Intersection Realignment at Peachtree Blvd / North Shallowford Road (Chamblee) — This is a notable one: the awkward multi-road intersection in Chamblee is slated for a full realignment. Details are still being evaluated, but the goal is to untangle one of the area's more confusing junctions.
- North Fork Trail, Phase I (Fischer Trail to Chamblee-Tucker Road) — A multiuse trail along the North Fork Peachtree Creek corridor is in the concept/planning phase. Long road to construction, but it's funded and moving.
- I-285 Express Lanes (DeKalb/Fulton) — The broader I-285 managed lanes project — adding express lanes in both directions from the SR-400/I-285 interchange east to Henderson Road — remains in pre-construction. If you're a regular I-285 commuter, this is a major eventual disruption to keep on your radar.