Atlanta mayor proposes the city's largest budget in history

Some highlights Dickens featured in his proposal:

• $6.2 million for new police and fire department equipment and vehicles.
• $10 million for city employee pay raises, including a cost-of-living adjustment.
• More than $8 million for the city's affordable housing trust fund, up 15% from last year's contribution.
• More than $6 million for various youth programming, youth centers and summer youth employment.
• The creation of a new Department of Labor and Employment Services to help coordinate workforce development.

The (very) big picture: Combined with other revenue funds and the watershed and aviation departments, the city manages nearly $2.5 billion.

Flashback: Some of the past year's budget accomplishments include the acquisition of nearly 300 acres of parkland, the $7 million repair of Cheshire Bridge Road, developing the first-ever municipal carbon credit program in Georgia and widening the airport's Concourse D.

What's next: Council will start hearing from police, public works and other departments this week.