Press Releases

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s $21 million plan to keep DeKalb residents in their homes was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 13. “The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a housing affordability crisis in our county,” CEO Thurmond said. “This multimillion-dollar investment will prevent and protect families from evictions from their rental homes and apartments.” The DeKalb County Community Care Initiative will distribute $13 million to 11 nonprofit organizations to provide rental and utility assistance, employment assistance, training, mental health services, educational needs, food, childcare and legal services.

DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is seeking design submissions for a new “I Voted” sticker that may be provided to voters as an option as they exit the polls during the upcoming General Election cycle. The “I Voted” sticker design challenge is open to DeKalb County School District juniors and seniors. Students are encouraged to submit their original designs that reflect their vision for DeKalb County. The winning design will receive a grand prize of $500, the first runner up will receive $200 and second runner up will receive $100.

Efforts to improve the watershed system throughout DeKalb County continue with the design of the Cobb Fowler North Trunk Sewer Project. The county will host a Public Information Open House event about this project on Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Dr., Decatur, GA 30032.

DeKalb County property owners are receiving $162 million in property tax cuts as nearly 260,000 tax bills are being mailed to property owners beginning Aug. 15. In June, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced the county’s Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) credit for 2024 will provide $162 million in property tax relief for property owners with homestead exemptions. The projected EHOST II property tax savings for homeowners is $1 billion over the next six years.

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host a Doggie Splash Pawlooza on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Midway Park Pool, located at 3181 Midway Road, Decatur, Ga. This year’s event will include a dog swimsuit contest, games, music and more. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. Admission is $5 per dog to swim. All proceeds will fund enhancements for the Brookside and Mason Mill dog parks. Owners must arrive with their dogs on a leash and provide proof of current vaccinations and rabies tag.