Decatur: Schools Are Owed Millions and a $559M Water Overhaul Looms

Hello, Decatur! It's a week where the numbers are hard to ignore. A bureaucratic paperwork error has left City Schools of Decatur short on E-SPLOST funds it was counting on, while DeKalb County is weighing a $559 million overhaul of its water infrastructure that would reshape the region for decades. There's also a restaurant changing hands on Church Street, the Pollinator Festival landing Saturday, and a protected cycle track in the works for SR-10 — keep reading for the full picture.

- News — A tax paperwork mistake has left Decatur and Atlanta schools short millions in capital funds, the DeKalb School Board narrowly passed a $1.6 billion budget, and the city is betting on a high school pipeline to solve its firefighter shortage.
- Business — Mother's Best Fried Chicken is closing its 406 Church Street location, and an all-day spot called Dan's Snack Bar is moving in to take its place.
- Events — The Pollinator Festival hits Harmony Park on Saturday, The War and Treaty plays the Downtown Square Thursday, and Decatur FC faces off against Chattanooga FC Tuesday night.
- Government — DeKalb commissioners are set to vote Monday on a $559 million water system overhaul, a potential data center moratorium, and the 2026 millage rates that will set every homeowner's tax bill.
- Construction — A protected cycle track is planned for SR-10, a drone operations pad just got permitted on Memorial Drive, and residents filed 30 service requests this week covering potholes, missed pickups, and park conditions across the city.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Atlanta, Decatur schools owed millions in sales tax funds after paperwork error
A paperwork mistake has left City Schools of Decatur and Atlanta Public Schools short millions in E-SPLOST dollars meant for capital improvements and school operations owed to them by DeKalb Schools. Officials are working to untangle the error and get schools the critical funds they’re owed.

DeKalb County to launch affordable housing investment bond
DeKalb County is rolling out a new bond program aimed squarely at the affordable housing crunch that has squeezed residents across the region for years. If the program delivers, it could reshape where and how new affordable developments get built, and who gets to stay in a county that's grown considerably more expensive.

Decatur hosting Know Your Flow stormwater workshops
The City of Decatur wants residents to understand exactly what happens to rainwater once it hits their property and why it matters beyond a soggy yard. The "Know Your Flow" workshops are a practical resource for homeowners, particularly those in flood-prone spots where a little knowledge can mean a lot less damage.

How Decatur plans to fix its firefighter shortage from inside the classroom
Decatur's fire department is running thin on personnel, and city leaders are betting that the solution starts in high school. By partnering with local schools to identify and train future first responders early, the city is playing a long game on public safety — one that could pay off in faster response times and a homegrown workforce invested in the community it protects.

DeKalb School Board narrowly passes a $1.6 billion budget
After a vote that was anything but comfortable, the DeKalb County School Board approved a $1.6 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year. The close margin signals real disagreement behind the scenes, and families across the district will feel the effects in classrooms, staffing levels, and the condition of school facilities.

BUSINESS

Dan's Snack Bar - opening/closing - Mother's Best Fried Chicken is closing its 406 Church Street location in Downtown Decatur, with an all-day eatery called Dan's Snack Bar set to take its place.

EVENTS | Presented by

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The Pollinator Festival at Harmony Park on Saturday is worth flagging for the whole neighborhood — an outdoor festival celebrating the bees, butterflies, and blooms that keep Decatur's green spaces thriving.

Monday, June 22
- Eddie's Attic Songwriters Open Mic Night | Eddie's Attic
- Toddler Storytime | Decatur Library
- Preschool Storytime | Decatur Library

Tuesday, June 23
- Decatur FC VS. Chattanooga FC | Decatur High School
- Timeless Tributes: Candlelight Concert with Sweet P & Friends | Eddie's Attic
- SWING DANCE LESSONS | Roaring Social Decatur
- Adult-ish Sewing Club | Decatur Library

Wednesday, June 24
- Paul Cornish Trio | Eddie’s Attic
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden
- Church Picnic | Ingleside Church
- Midsummer Night Stream | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Books and Babies Storytime | Decatur Library

Thursday, June 25
- The War and Treaty | Downtown Decatur Square
- Mucedorus | Pythagoras Masonic Temple
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – June | Woodlands Garden
- Teach-in: Data centers, surveillance, and policing in DeKalb | 184 S. Candler
- Senior Adult Event: Meet Me At The Garden | First Baptist Church of Decatur

Friday, June 26
- Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Friday Night Live – 404 Theory – Modern Jazz Trio | The Reading Room
- Michelle Malone Solo Songs and Stories Eddies Attic 7PM | Eddie's Attic
- Volunteer Meadow Planting | Legacy Park
- Qigong/Dao Yin Class: Mindful Movement Series | Woodlands Garden

Saturday, June 27
- Pollinator Festival | Harmony Park
- Volunteer Meadow Planting | Legacy Park
- Woodland Explorers | Woodlands Garden
- Oakhurst Family Games | 450 E Lake Dr.
- Family Constellations Workshop | Decatur Healing Arts
- Little Artist Storytime | Decatur Library
- Discover More: Documentary Series | Decatur Library

Sunday, June 28
- Jess Ray: Bless It All Tour | Eddie's Attic
- Sonic ALchemy Sessions | 178 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA

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 – Committee of the Whole

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to meet June 18 to take up a packed agenda — though since no minutes are posted, note that any item could be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before action is taken. The biggest-ticket item was a proposed $233.8 million design-build contract with Ruby-Collins, Inc. to demolish and rebuild major infrastructure at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, the facility that serves much of the county's drinking water supply; a separate $325.5 million multi-year contract for on-call water and sewer repairs was also on the table. Residents who walk or bike local trails will want to watch two proposed design contracts — a $3.12 million agreement to plan Phase VI of the South River Trail and a $998,946 contract to design a North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail segment toward Chamblee Tucker Road — which would advance two of the county's most anticipated greenway extensions. Public hearings on the 2026 property tax millage rates were also scheduled, giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in before the county sets how much homeowners will owe. Rounding out the agenda are proposals to establish strict new zoning standards for data centers, add $1.48 million to the county's ambulance services contract with AMR to improve emergency response times, and allocate $500,000 in SPLOST II funding for a new bicycle and multi-use trail facility along Laredo Drive.

Decatur City Commission

The Decatur City Commission held a Special Called Meeting on June 8, 2026, focused entirely on the proposed FY 2026–2027 budget, revised FY 2025–2026 budget, and 2026 millage rates — but the session ended without any formal votes or decisions. No members of the public stepped forward to comment during the hearing, so Mayor Powers closed it after commissioners used the time to debate the financial pressures shaping the upcoming budget. Key discussions centered on rising employee health insurance costs, salary adjustments tied to staff reclassifications, the addition of new firefighter positions, and the city's planned transition to an electric municipal vehicle fleet — all of which carry real implications for how tax dollars get spent. Hard copies of the proposed budget are available for public review at Decatur City Hall and the Decatur Library ahead of a final vote, which residents should watch for in the coming weeks.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School District Board of Education met June 15 and approved its full FY 2026–2027 operating budget along with the accompanying property tax levy resolution — meaning school taxes for the coming year are now set. The Board also approved a joint resolution to continue the E-SPLOST, the one-cent sales tax dedicated to school capital improvements, securing a significant long-term funding stream for school construction and renovation projects across the district. On the spending side, commissioners authorized a $15 million districtwide purchase of updated K–12 science instructional materials, a $3.14 million contract for new Thomas Built school buses, and renovation and infrastructure contracts totaling several million more for individual school campuses. The Board also renewed its Centegix CrisisAlert emergency safety system contract for a fourth year at up to $1.1 million, keeping the district's campus alert infrastructure active. Earlier the same day, the Board held a separate called session that served as the third public hearing on the millage rate and a second community input session on the budget; that session recorded no formal votes, as it was designed for public feedback ahead of the final decisions made at the later meeting. Also worth watching: the Board introduced a new policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence in schools for its first reading, signaling that formal district guidelines on AI are now in development.

Meetings This Week
- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners Millage Rate Public Hearing #1 — June 23, 2026 | Avondale Estates City Hall
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — June 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM | 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — June 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM | 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)
The board is scheduled to consider votes on the 2026 property tax millage rates, proposed increases to stormwater utility and residential sanitation fees, and a potential moratorium on land disturbance permits for new data centers pending a health and environmental assessment. Also on the agenda: a $233.8 million design-build contract for upgrades at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, more than $4 million in trail design contracts for the South River Trail and North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail, a $441,244 contract for new traffic signals at Stephenson Road and Valley Brook Road, rezoning requests at 2697 Kelly Lake Road and 1942 Columbia Drive, and a playground replacement at Frazier Rowe Park (2886 Lavista Rd).

- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners Millage Rate Public Hearing #2 — June 24, 2026 | Avondale Estates City Hall
- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners Regular Meeting — June 24, 2026 | Avondale Estates City Hall
- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners — June 24, 2026 | Avondale Estates City Hall

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits
- 2675 N. Decatur Rd — $164K commercial renovation underway. A 550 sq. ft. ground-floor space at POB I is being fitted out to support a Class 1 CT imaging suite — medical infrastructure quietly expanding in the corridor.
- Conway Rd — $100K permit to reconstruct and expand an existing single-family home. Someone's not leaving — they're doubling down.
- Memorial Dr — $90K accessory structures permit covering a kiosk, battery-powered generator, and fencing in a parking lot to carve out space for drone operations. Worth watching to see how that use develops.

On the quieter side, five routine residential permits totaled just over $29K — the usual mix of smaller home projects humming along in the background.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Kensington MARTA Station Transit Access & Mobility (Phase I/LCI, DeKalb County) — Transit access improvements underway at Kensington MARTA Station, about 1.7 miles from the area. If you use this station or connect through it, expect some disruption around the entrance and surrounding access points during active work phases.
- I-285 Concrete Rehab (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, so expect lane disruptions during work windows. If I-285 is part of your daily commute in this corridor, it's worth checking conditions before you head out.

Pre-Construction

- SR-10 Road Diet & Cycle Track (DeKalb County) — A significant transformation is planned for SR-10 between SR-155/S. Candler St./E. Trinity Place and Arcadia Ave./Sam's Crossing. The project would add center left-turn lanes, a protected two-way cycle track, and a road diet along this roughly 0.2-mile stretch. If you drive, bike, or walk this corridor, it'll look very different when this one wraps up.
- Downtown Avondale Multi-Modal Improvements — Shared-use paths are slated for Washington, Franklin, and Oak Streets in Avondale Estates. Three separate project locations are in the funding queue, all within about a half-mile of central Decatur. Good news for anyone who's ever wished for a safer way to get around downtown Avondale on foot or by bike.
- Laredo Drive & N. Clarendon Ave. Pedestrian/Bike Upgrades (DeKalb County) — Sidewalk and connectivity improvements are planned at both Laredo Drive and N. Clarendon Ave. under GDOT's Vulnerable Road User program. Basic infrastructure, but long overdue for those corridors.
- S. McDonough St./Oakview Rd. Shared Use Path (DeKalb County) — A shared-use path is planned along South McDonough Street from Hosea L. Williams Drive to SR-11/College Avenue, running through the heart of the City of Decatur. Cyclists and pedestrians will want to keep an eye on this one — it fills a real gap in the active transportation network here.
- Scott Blvd. Complete Streets Plan (DeKalb County) — Details are still limited, but a Complete Streets overhaul is in the works for Scott Boulevard. Expect potential lane reconfigurations, bike/ped improvements, or both when this moves forward.

Service Requests

Decatur residents filed 30 service requests this week, covering a range of infrastructure and maintenance concerns across the city.

- Potholes — Five reports filed on Commerce Dr, E Trinity Pl, Sycamore Pl, and E Ponce de Leon Ave.
- Street Maintenance — Four reports on Hibernia Ave (two separate locations), Atlanta Ave, and Commerce Dr.
- Missed Sanitation Collection — Pickups reported missed on S Candler St, S Columbia Dr, Spring St, and Fairview St.
- Parks and Greenspace Maintenance — Four reports flagging conditions at Adams St, Harmony Park, Sycamore St, and Nelson Ferry Rd.
- Tree Maintenance — Three requests on W Ponce de Leon Ave, N Decatur Rd, and E Ponce de Leon Ave. A downed tree on Saint Patrick St was also reported and has since been closed out.
- Street Signs — Issues flagged at N Candler St and Feld Ave.
- City Facilities Maintenance — Two reports on Huron St and S McDonough St.
- Stormwater — One issue reported on W Ponce de Leon Ave.
- Vegetation Maintenance — E Trinity Pl flagged and already resolved.
- Code Violations — One open complaint on W Hill St.
- Electric Scooter/Bike — A nuisance report filed on S Columbia Dr.