Dickens says extending TADs could help end inequality in Atlanta
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A $5 billion plan to reduce Atlanta's stubborn income inequality hinges on extending a tax incentive program this year, Mayor Andre Dickens said at Wednesday's State of the City address.
Why it matters: Atlanta is a group project, Dickens told civic, business and political leaders at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and he needs their buy-in for the neighborhood revitalization plan.
Zoom in: Under Dickens' Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, billions of dollars from Atlanta's tax allocation districts would be set aside for affordable housing, small business support and other projects to create "whole, healthy, thriving neighborhoods."
How it works: TADs are defined areas where future revenue from increased property tax assessments spurred by development is directed towards improvement and infrastructure projects.
Yes, but: The city would need to extend each TAD past 2050, a move that requires the support of the Fulton County Commission, Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta City Council.
- In addition, Georgia lawmakers could revive a measure that would require cities like Atlanta to reduce their use of TADs.
The other side: Critics say extending the TADs could divert much-needed revenue from the school system and Fulton County, which may have to raise property taxes to pay for any budget shortfalls.
Between the lines: Dickens told the audience the national landscape has changed since he was first elected in 2021, with individualism and materialism "being preached at the highest levels of government."
- Backing the initiative will ensure no parent has to choose whether to buy fresh food or pay a medical bill, Dickens said.
- "We need you to say yes to the group project," he said. "You've answered the call before and I know you'll answer the call again because all of Atlanta deserves the best of Atlanta."
Stunning stat: Two children born in different parts of the city and separated by less than five miles can have extraordinarily different lifespans, Dickens said.
- A kid living in Buckhead could live two decades longer than a peer growing up in English Avenue, for example.
What they're saying: "We are at a moral crossroads," Dickens said. "The work is harder now. Everything is more expensive now."
- "Federal funding? That support has dried up. That means we have to do more on our own."
What's next: This week, a city oversight commission released a draft analysis (PDF) of Atlanta's TADs and recommendations. The Atlanta City Council is expected to vet the issue after its recess ends in mid-April.
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the State of the City happened on Wednesday (not Tuesday).