Public Service Commission draws variety of candidates for June 17 special primary ► PAGE 4
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City’s new tech specialist lays plan for AI initiative By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs elected officials and city department heads meet for a third and final workshop May 27 before final approval of the fiscal year 2026 budget, set for June 17. City officials got on the same page about improving Sandy Springs Raquet Center and issuing debt to address Fire Department stations.
Sandy Springs 2026 budget pushes fire safety upgrades By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs government huddled May 27 for the last of three budget workshops planning for priority projects amid possible cuts to federal grants. The 2026 fiscal year budget goes into effect July 1, and a final public hearing on the proposed spending plan will be at 6 p.m. June 17, followed by a City Council vote. City Manager Eden Freeman leads the annual budgeting process, meeting with each of the city’s dozen or so department heads and the mayor months in advance of May workshops where the full City Council can give input on specific projects and
initiatives. Sandy Springs prides itself on its conservative budgeting, underestimating revenues and overestimating expenses, and never using one-time funding sources for recurring operating costs. The city’s proposed 2026 general fund budget for day-to-day operations is up almost 5 percent from this year, rising $6 million to $131 million. Some of the largest changes to the city’s operating budget for 2026 include an estimated $2.1 million for general liability insurance, an 18 percent increase, and an estimated $10.8 million for employee health insurance, up more than 20 percent.
See BUDGET, Page 10
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs’ tech specialist laid out initiatives he’s working on to integrate artificial intelligence into the city’s operations for improved efficiency and service. Keith McMellen, director of Strategy, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Integration, told the City Council May 20 that he’s looking to unite technical teams across multiple departments to develop a comprehensive strategy, identify opportunities and implement data-driven solutions. “We are aligned with national trends, many cities are trying to work on development of AI policies and how to govern the use of it,” McMellen said. “There is a lot of uncertainty …” Right now, Sandy Springs uses AIpowered data across various departments, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Fire, IT and Communications. Some recent examples include the 2023 analysis of tree canopy, the CrowdStrike cybersecurity system and emergency response time analytics. The city says the new initiative will build on that by breaking down data silos, promoting data and AI literacy among staff and launching a range of projects to better serve the community.
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
Sandy Springs Data Strategy, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Integration Director Keith McMellen
McMellen, who joined the city early this year, brings more than two decades of experience in the private sector with leadership roles at CP Kelco, Colonial Pipeline and Intercontinental Exchange. City leaders say his experience leading high-performing teams, modernizing enterprise data systems and delivering impactful business intelligence solutions has equipped him with a deep expertise in AI integration.
See INITIATIVE, Page 11
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