DeKalb County is set to close the fiscal year 2024 with a startling $150 million in its fund balance coffers, marking a significant turnaround from its previous financial woes. In a statement released by DeKalb County, CEO Michael Thurmond credited the achievement to a combination of fiscal responsibility and strategic budgeting. "We have ushered in a new era of financial accountability in DeKalb County as evidenced by eight years of balanced budgets and a growing rainy-day fund," Thurmond said.
Thurmond's administration has managed not only to effectively balance out its past deficit but also to quickly grow a substantial rainy-day fund. As a nod to the county's employees, who have directly contributed to this financial success, DeKalb awarded them with a $1,500 retention incentive bonus in the preceding month. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the county's 6,000 employees have been granted such a bonus, signaling the county's commitment to employee recognition and continuous morale boosting initiatives.
DeKalb County's journey to financial recovery began in earnest back in January 2017, facing down a $24.7 million structural deficit that had led to the grim reality of layoffs and scaled-back services. CEO Thurmond introduced a series of fiscal reforms early on in his administration, which were then adopted by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in February 2017. His plan, according to the official statement, "ultimately balanced the budget and built a $150 million fund balance, which represents a 78 percent improvement."
"My administration has been committed to fostering the continuous growth and development of our most experienced employees who work hard to make our county a better place to live, work, play and do business," Thurmond told DeKalb County. It appears that this approach has yielded not only a fiscally sound county government but also a workforce that enjoys recognition and rewards for their dedication to public service.
