SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Mayor Rusty Paul swatted down suggestions for city councilmembers to openly discuss recommendations for how to spend an extra $800,000 in the proposed 2025 Sandy Springs capital budget.
Paul’s instruction to the council at the May 15 budget workshop was to submit proposals in writing before specifics should be aired at the official budget presentation scheduled for May 21.
It was the second of two budget workshops elected leaders have held on the new spending plan.
The workshop included results of the capital budget ballot, in which councilmembers ranked a number of capital projects by their priority.
City Manager Eden Freeman said the state expanded its annual funding for road projects, freeing up more than $750,000 the city had earlier allocated for pavement management.
Another $50,000 became available from the $100,000 the city had planned to use for a scoping study of the proposed Sandy Springs Police shooting range and simulation house. City officials decided to split funding of the study between the general fund and the Sandy Springs Police Foundation.
With the $800,000 now available, councilwomen Melissa Mular and Melody Kelley suggested ideas of their own, including a housing study and a review of small businesses along the Ga. 9 or Roswell Road corridor.
Mayor Rusty Paul said memos describing the proposed budget changes will need to be circulated in advance of the May 21 special meeting for the budget presentation. He said he did not think the $750,000 could be used for the councilwomen’s suggested projects.
Councilman Andy Bauman advocated for discussing the alternatives right then.
Paul said his antipathy for legislating on the fly is well-known.
“I will rule any motions that are not circulated ahead of time out of order,” Paul said. “Put your suggestions in writing, circulate them and then we will consider them; We’re not going to be making changes on the fly.”
Bauman asked the mayor how to properly motion for a budget amendment or recommended change during upcoming public meetings about the 2025 budget.
“Whether the motion is out of order or not, I would be interested to know,” Bauman said. “I hear your intent, and I think it’s great advice … I agree.”
Bauman also asked Freeman for an overview of the plans for the proposed shooting range and training complex before the scoping study’s requests for proposals are sent out.
“Being all for police training, I mean hands down a top priority,” Bauman said. “I’m concerned in this case that we’ve gotten a little bit ahead; we’re sort of out over our skis just a little bit.”
City officials reiterated the general fund will not pay for the future additions to the Police Headquarters and Municipal Court on Morgan Falls Road.
“This was floated at the retreat as sort of a done deal, in the sense we’re going to do the scoping.” Bauman said. “We’ve never had a briefing on sort of where we’re going.”
Capital ballot results
After councilmembers returned their capital ballots May 10, City Manager Freeman presented the results, which allocate just under $1.85 million to projects requiring $3.6 million.
Improvements to Morgan Falls Dog Park received the most first place votes from councilmembers, teeing up $750,000 for new surfacing and fencing, shade structures, a drinking fountain, dog wash and other site furnishings.
Councilmembers cited community demand for improvements during discussions at the April 30 budget workshop.
The additional results fund $300,000 for an illuminated street sign program, $200,000 for a Perimeter Small Area Plan, $400,000 for a bathroom facility at Ridgeview Park and $200,000 for a study of Roswell Road north of I-285.
A band shell at Heritage Lawn, with an estimated price tag of $1.75 million, received the lowest score and is not a recommended project in the 2025 capital budget.
Updates to budget
City Manager Freeman addressed questions from councilmembers after the first budget workshop and provided timelines for improvements to the Abernathy South Greenway and Old Riverside Park.
The 2025 budget sets aside $3 million for capital requests from the Recreation and Parks Department for the buildout of the properties, with estimated completion of both in summer 2026.
Other items discussed during the recap include a breakdown of technical services provided by the Police Department, an initiative to inventory the city’s stormwater system and the addition of a director of data strategy and analytics.
Freeman suggested elected officials consider capital budget alternatives for an extra $750,000, including expansion of the City Springs district, a capital account for park infrastructure and funding for Fire Station 4.
Sandy Springs News
Sandy Springs begins process to draft budget
- By HAYDEN SUMLIN
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