View this email in your browser

URGENT: Homestead Exemption Deadline Approaching

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson reminds homeowners to apply online for homestead exemptions before the April 1 deadline. Homestead exemptions provide a reduction in annual property taxes and are available to individuals who own and occupy the home in the county, including the City of Atlanta portion in DeKalb. Special exemptions are also available for eligible seniors ages 62 and older, disabled residents, and disabled veterans.

Individuals applying for the first time must own and occupy the home as their primary residence as of Jan. 1, 2023, have all vehicles registered in DeKalb County, file income taxes from the property, and not have a homestead exemption anywhere else. Applications received after April 1 will be processed for the following year. For all exemptions, eligibility, and document requirements, please visit www.dekalbtax.org/exemptions.

Pleasantdale Park Final Master

Planning Meeting

I would like to extend my gratitude to all of the residents who attended the final master planning meeting for Pleasantdale Park on February 23. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for residents to review the current plans and provide feedback directly to county staff and the engineers who will be working on the project.

I want to express my appreciation to the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, as well as Pond Engineering, for their hard work in developing a comprehensive plan that will ensure the optimal use of the park. And lastly, thank you to Chick-fil-A for providing dinner at the event.

If you were not able attend any of the community meetings and would like to see the current plans, please visit:

https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/users/user313/Final%20Boards_Reduced_0.pdf

Correll Pavilion Ribbon Cutting at

Grady Hospital

Last week, I attended the ribbon cutting of the Correll Pavilion at Grady Hospital with CEO Thurmond and several of my fellow commissioners (Commissioner Larry Johnson, Commissioner Lorraine Cochran Johnson, and Commissioner Michelle Long Spears). It was a wonderful event, and I am proud of the role DeKalb County will play in providing significant financial support for the only level 1 trauma center in Atlanta.

The $237 million dollar Pavilion, which is adjacent to Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta, is Grady’s largest investment in 30 years. The 10-story, 600,000-square-foot facility houses several services, including outpatient surgery, imaging, rehabilitation, and three pharmacies. It also features multiple specialty clinics, including ophthalmology, GI, ENT, oral surgery, and orthopedics. Grady’s cancer center is also located in the new pavilion.

The new pavilion was named in honor of A.D. “Pete” Correll, chairman emeritus of Georgia-Pacific and former chair of both the Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation and Grady Health Foundation boards of directors, who passed away in 2021. Correll led the effort to raise $96 million in private funding, which was matched by bond funding provided by DeKalb and Fulton counties.

Recent meeting with HUD

Secretary Marcia Fudge

I am thrilled to share that during my recent visit to the nation's capital, I had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Marci Fudge to discuss policy changes that can positively impact the quality of life in DeKalb County. As we continue to strengthen our relationships with our federal partners, it was an honor to have a voice for our community.

Our Community Development Director, Allen Mitchell, played an instrumental role in providing recommendations and guidance for these requests. Along with fellow commissioners and staff, we presented key policy changes to Secretary Fudge that can lead to significant improvements in our county.

I am excited to share a few of these policy requests with you below, and rest assured that I will keep you informed of any developments. We are committed to working tirelessly for the betterment of our community.

Increase the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Funding. The ESG program provides funding to: (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; (2) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; (3) help operate these shelters; (4) provide essential services to shelter residents, (5) rapidly rehouse homeless individuals and families, and (6) prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless. The HUD, 2022 DeKalb County ESG allocation was $407,414.

Fair Market Rent Allow the DeKalb County Continuum of Care (CoC) the flexibility to exceed Fair Market Rent in the same manner as the DeKalb County Public Housing Authority. For example, the DeKalb County Housing Authority is allowed to exceed the HUD Fair Market Rent by up to 110%, while CoC and ESG agencies are restricted to using the HUD published Fair Market Rent with no adjustment. This results in a disparity among low-income, subsidized renters and renders it more difficult for CoC/ESG participants to secure affordable housing. Further, allow CoC and ESG agencies to offer landlord incentives to encourage landlords to make units available in a tight real estate market. The incentives could be similar to those offered through ESG-CV.

Eliminate Match Requirements for CoC and ESG Programs Currently CoC and ESG projects carry a match requirement that must be satisfied during the program year. The match requirement creates an undue hardship for non-profit organizations that are attempting to serve homeless at at-risk households. It also makes it difficult for the CoC and Public Jurisdictions to recruit proficient agencies to implement CoC and ESG programs. These agencies could be excellent service providers; but, frequently, indicate their inability to provide the required match.