Decatur: $47M Budget Details, and WatchFest Takes the Square

Hey Decatur! Tonight's your shot to weigh in on how the city spends $47 million, with public hearings on the budget and millage rate starting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. And if you haven't made it to the square yet, WatchFest is officially underway: free World Cup screenings, live music, and a downtown that's very much in the mood. There's plenty more inside, from a renegotiated federal sewer agreement to a garage-turned-juice-bar that got a commercial permit.

- News — Decatur's proposed $47M budget is open for public comment tonight, DeKalb and the EPA are renegotiating a decades-old sewer consent decree, and WatchFest has officially taken over the downtown square.
- Events — If WatchFest isn’t your thing, there’s always the Summer Solstice Artwalk, Amy Grant at Eddie's Attic, sound baths, Coltrane tributes, and an album release on Sunday.
- Government — DeKalb extended its data center moratorium through September, roundabouts are coming to Ponce and Clairmont, and this week brings a big DeKalb schools budget vote plus a hefty county Committee of the Whole agenda including a $233M water plant contract.
- Construction — A 148-room downtown hotel just got its water and sewer hookup, a garage is becoming a juice bar and yoga studio, and a protected cycle track is planned for SR-10.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Decatur proposing $47 million in Fiscal Year 2026-2027
The city's proposed budget lays out how $47 million will be spent on your streets, services, and schools and tonight is your chance to weigh in. Public hearings on the millage rate and budget are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, so if you've got opinions, now's the time to show up.

DeKalb, EPA to rewrite multi-decade sewage lawsuit agreement
DeKalb County and the EPA are renegotiating a long-standing federal consent decree that governs upgrades to the county's aging sewer infrastructure — a system that has struggled with persistent spills for years. For residents, the outcome of these talks has real stakes for water quality and public health.

Soccer, music fans gather for first day of Decatur WatchFest
Decatur's downtown square is officially in World Cup mode, with free match screenings and live music kicking off what promises to be a festive monthlong run. It's a great time to be near the square and enjoy some soccer with your neighbors.

DeKalb extends moratorium as data center backlash grows across Georgia
DeKalb's moratorium on new data centers has been extended through September 30, buying the county time to rethink its zoning rules as community frustration over environmental and utility impacts continues to build statewide. What comes out of this review will have lasting consequences for how land gets used in fast-changing areas.

World Cup Atlanta: Additional watch parties in metro Atlanta
Atlanta is leaning all the way into its World Cup summer, and options for catching the action with a crowd are multiplying across the metro. If the Decatur square isn't your scene — or you just want more options — this roundup is worth a look.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 15
- Tai Chi/Qigong Midlevel Practice | Legacy Park
- Monday FUNday - Half-Priced Cocktails | Wild Heaven Beer
- Pageant with Crimson Love & The Normas | Eddie's Attic

Tuesday, June 16
- Adult-ish Sewing Club | Decatur Library
- Young Adult Community Group | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- $5 Beer Trivia Tuesdays in Avondale | Wild Heaven Beer
- ELIXIR 6 | Roaring Social Decatur

Wednesday, June 17
- Is This House Still Serving You? | Decatur Parks and Recreation
- Amy Grant | Eddie's Attic
- Wednesday Walk & Talk | Woodlands Garden
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden
- Earthly Playing Field: Radhika Singh in Conversation with Holiday Simmons | 184 S. Candler St.

Thursday, June 18
- Summer Solstice Artwalk | Downtown Decatur
- Stormwater Management Workshop | Legacy Park
- Current Obsessions Art Opening | Worthmore Jewelers
- Comedy Night at The Laugh Loft | The Stratford Pub
- Boozy Bingo | The Reading Room
- Mike Walton Presents: "A Love Supreme" John Coltrane's 100th Birthday | Eddie's Attic
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park

Friday, June 19
- John Paul White | Avon Theater
- Candlelight: Tribute to Drake | 318 Sycamore St
- The Droptines | Eddie's Attic

Saturday, June 20
- Music in the Garden: Lola Ladae | 435 Oakview Rd
- Candlelight: Hip-Hop on Strings | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Summer Solstice Yin Yoga Soundbath | The Intown Retreat
- Sound Bathing | Woodlands Garden
- Monthly Meet & Mingle for LGBTQ+ Folks 50+ | 184 S. Candler St.
- Hunter Callahan | Eddie’s Attic
- Stories with BELLES & special guest Averie Bielski | Eddie's Attic
- Atlanta Amputee Soccer Community Day | Station Soccer – East Lake

Sunday, June 21
- Acoustic Honey | Wild Heaven Beer
- Eli Blackshear's "In Love and War" Album Release | Eddie’s Attic

GOVERNMENT

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

Past Week Roundup

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

The board's most significant action at its June 9 meeting was extending the countywide moratorium on new data centers by 100 days, pushing the ban through September 30, 2026, while planning staff finalize new zoning regulations for the land-intensive facilities. Commissioners also formally backed state-designed roundabout installations at key intersections on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Clairmont Road, a move intended to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety at those busy corridors. A $3.7 million contract for roof repairs at several county public health facilities was approved, funded through SPLOST II. Meanwhile, several pocketbook issues for residents were pushed to later dates: proposed increases to stormwater utility fees and sanitation and landfill rates were both deferred to June 23, a proposed ordinance addressing public camping and vagrancy was also deferred to June 23, and a major overhaul to the county's noise regulations was pushed to July 7. The June 10 Town Hall was scheduled to present the stormwater and sanitation fee increase proposals to the public and collect comment before any final vote — residents were able to sign up to speak, with county residents given priority and a three-minute limit per speaker, though outcomes from that session have not yet been confirmed.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School District held its second public hearing on the proposed millage rate on June 11, giving homeowners and residents another formal opportunity to weigh in on the school district's property tax rate before any final decision is made. This type of hearing is required by state law when a taxing authority is considering a rate that would generate more revenue than the prior year, ensuring the public has multiple chances to comment. Because this session was designated as a community input forum, no formal votes or rate adoptions were recorded. The final decision on the millage rate — which will directly affect how much property owners pay on their annual tax bills — is expected at a subsequent scheduled meeting.

Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners

The Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners met on June 10 with a packed agenda that could meaningfully reshape the character of the city's central districts, though official minutes have not yet been posted, so none of the following outcomes are confirmed. Two significant residential development proposals were scheduled for votes: a 13-acre mixed-use redevelopment by 278 Oak Holdings, LLC (associated with Avila Real Estate and Hedgewood Homes) proposing multifamily, single-family, and townhome housing in the Central Business District, and a separate 1.91-acre townhome and single-family project by ATMOS Project, LLC on nearby parcels also in a central business zone. Tied directly to those developments, the board was also set to consider a real property exchange in which the city would acquire certain private parcels for stormwater management purposes and, in return, hand over the abandoned Franklin Street right-of-way and certain remnant city-owned land to the developers. At a work session the same day, commissioners were scheduled to continue discussion of the 2026 preliminary tax digest and millage rate — with agenda materials flagging a potential tax increase — and to consider rescinding a prior authorization to use eminent domain on one property that the city has determined is no longer needed for a transportation purpose. All items across both meetings remain unconfirmed until the city publishes official minutes.

Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority

The Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority met on June 9 with several items that touch on the city's development future, though minutes have not been posted and actual outcomes remain unconfirmed. A statement was scheduled to address what the agenda described as "misinformation and related issues" surrounding the sale of the former Department of Juvenile Justice building — a high-profile property whose future has been a topic of community interest. The board was also slated to discuss the Downtown Master Plan and begin planning an August charette, an intensive community design session where residents, planners, and stakeholders collectively shape a vision for downtown's future development and streetscape. Additional items included a discussion of playground maintenance at the Town Green, a funding request for exterior building upgrades, and a look at how the DDA wants to participate in the city's upcoming centennial celebrations. The meeting concluded with a scheduled closed executive session on real estate matters, which often signals activity around potential property acquisitions or development partnerships.

City of Decatur City Commission

The Decatur City Commission held a special called public hearing on June 8 focused squarely on money: the proposed 2026-2027 city budget, revised estimates for the current fiscal year, and the 2026 millage rates that will determine how much homeowners owe in city property taxes. The hearing gave residents a formal opportunity to comment on the proposed spending plan, which funds core city services including parks, public safety, and road maintenance, before commissioners take any final vote on adoption. Residents could participate in person, join virtually via Zoom, or submit written comments to the City Manager by 5:00 p.m. that day to have their input entered into the public record. Because minutes are not yet posted, it is not known what public feedback was received or whether any preliminary direction on the millage rate emerged from the session.

City of Decatur Planning Commission

The Decatur Planning Commission met on June 9 for a check-in on the city's Comprehensive Plan — the master document that guides all future decisions on land use, housing density, and transportation priorities across the city. Consulting firm TSW was scheduled to present a status update covering the project timeline and a summary of public feedback gathered to date, followed by an open display-board session where residents could review draft directions and add their own input. Because the Comprehensive Plan ultimately shapes every zoning decision the city makes, this kind of mid-process check-in is a meaningful moment for residents who care about neighborhood character, housing affordability, or walkability. Residents should also note that the Planning Commission is not scheduled to meet in July, with the next regular meeting set for August 11, 2026 — meaning the June session was the last public touchpoint on the Comprehensive Plan for several months.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — June 15, 2026. The board will hold its second budget presentation and a third public hearing on the proposed millage rate, giving residents another opportunity to weigh in before any formal votes on school funding and property taxes are taken.
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — June 15, 2026. The board is scheduled to vote on adopting the FY2027 operating budget and property tax levy, approve continuation of the E-SPLOST sales tax, and consider a $15 million K-12 science curriculum purchase and $3.1 million in new school buses. A first reading of a new board policy on artificial intelligence use in schools is also on the agenda.
- City of Decatur — Decatur City Commission — June 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM. Public hearing on the budget.
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — June 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM, Multipurpose Room A1201, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur. Public hearings on the 2026 county property tax millage rates are on the agenda, along with a proposed $233.8 million design-build contract to rebuild major facilities at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant and a $325.5 million multi-year water and sewer repair contract. The board will also consider design contracts totaling over $4 million for extensions of the South River Trail and North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail, new zoning rules and permit moratoriums for data centers, and a $1.48 million boost to the county's ambulance services contract. Rezoning requests are scheduled for 2697 Kelly Lake Road (R-75 to R-60 for 12 new single-family homes) and 1942 Columbia Drive (R-75 to RSM for a new residential community), and a traffic safety improvement project at North Decatur Road at Parkdale Drive is up for a term extension.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

705 Church St — $700K water and sewer hookup permitted for a 148-room hotel coming to Downtown Decatur. Infrastructure permits like this are a leading indicator — the building itself isn't far behind.
- Sycamore Dr — $850K new single-family home under construction. Expect active outdoor work on this one.
- Rockbridge Rd — $600K new single-family residence breaking ground on an existing residential lot.
- 497 Winn Way, Ste 115 — $2.5M interior renovation underway at Quest Diagnostics. That's a substantial investment in an existing medical services facility.
- 3310 Blanton Dr — Garage conversion adding a juice bar, yoga/gym studio, home office, and bathroom. Yes, a juice bar — in someone's garage. Permitted as commercial use, so this one's worth watching.

Beyond the headliners, 12 smaller residential and minor permits were filed across the area totaling roughly $82K, a mix of single-family work, retail, one apartment project, and a restaurant permit.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Kensington MARTA Station Transit Access & Mobility (Phase I-LCI, DeKalb County) — Transit access improvements underway near the Kensington MARTA station, about 1.7 miles from the neighborhood. Expect activity around the station area that could affect nearby surface streets and parking access.
- I-285 Concrete Rehab from Snapfinger Road to SR-8 (DeKalb County) — Resurfacing work is active on I-285/SR-407 between Snapfinger Road and SR-8, roughly 2.3 miles out. The project targets a stretch with a low pavement condition score — if you're catching 285 in this corridor, build in extra time and watch for lane restrictions.

Pre-Construction

- SR-10 Road Diet & Cycle Track (DeKalb County) — A significant corridor overhaul is coming to SR-10 between S. Candler St./E. Trinity Place and Arcadia Ave. Plans include center left-turn lanes and a protected two-way cycle track, plus a road diet to calm traffic. If you drive or bike this stretch regularly, the geometry of this road is going to look very different once work begins.
- Downtown Avondale Multi-Modal Improvements — Shared-use paths are planned along Washington, Franklin, and Oak Streets in Avondale Estates. Three separate project locations are in the works, all within about a half-mile of central Decatur. Good news for pedestrians and cyclists in that pocket of the neighborhood.
- Laredo Drive & N. Clarendon Ave. Pedestrian Enhancements — Sidewalk and bike connectivity upgrades are slated for both Laredo Drive and N. Clarendon Ave. as part of a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) connectivity initiative.
- S. McDonough St./Oakview Rd. Shared Use Path — A new multi-use path is planned along South McDonough Street from Hosea L. Williams Drive up to College Avenue (SR-11). This one runs through the heart of Decatur and should meaningfully improve non-car connectivity along that corridor once it gets going.
- Scott Blvd. Complete Streets Plan — A complete streets redesign is on the books for Scott Boulevard, though specific scope details aren't yet public. Worth keeping an eye on if that's part of your daily route.
- Atlanta Ave. @ CSX Railroad Crossing & Adair Street Realignment — Railroad crossing improvements and a street realignment are planned at the Atlanta Ave./CSX intersection. Three project components are listed, suggesting a more involved reconfiguration at this crossing.

Service Requests

Residents filed 24 service requests across Decatur this week. Here's what's been flagged:

- Traffic Signal Issues — Reported at Clairemont Ave (400–412 block, two reports), N. Superior Ave, E. Trinity Pl, and E. Lake Dr at Park Pl.
- Sidewalk Maintenance — Concerns logged on Oakview Rd (600 block), Atlanta Ave, W. Ponce de Leon Ave, and 4th Ave.
- Potholes — Reported on E. Ponce de Leon Ave (400 block), Johnson Pl, and at the intersection of Commerce Dr and E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
- Tree Maintenance — Requests filed on Chief Matthews Rd, Superior Ave, and Westchester Dr (400–500 block).
- City Facilities Maintenance — Issues reported at locations on Atlanta Ave and Scott Blvd.
- Missed Sanitation Collection — Reported on Fairview St and 5th Ave.
- Vegetation Maintenance — Chevelle Ln.
- Street Maintenance — Pope Cir.
- Street Sign — 2nd Ave.
- City Parks and Greenspace Maintenance — Westchester Dr.
- Deceased Animal — 5th Ave.