GDOT seeks bids for express lanes ► PAGE 3
M ay 9 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 , N o . 1 9
Sandy Springs begins process to draft budget Inflation, property tax revenue weigh on 2025 spending plan By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Elected city officials and staff packed the Barfield Conference Room at Sandy Springs City Hall April 30 for the first of two public workshops to draft a 2025 budget.
The financial plans for operations and capital improvements make up the bulk of the city’s overall budget, which topped more than $1 billion across all funds last year. Sandy Springs operates on a fiscal year budget which runs from July 1-June 30. The budget process starts in January with the City Council’s adoption of priorities as part of its annual retreat,
City Manager Eden Freeman said. Freeman then meets with department heads to review finances and requests before holding two budget workshops. Like many cities that depend on property taxes to help pay their way, Sandy Springs is facing revenue challenges with commercial real estate. Data from the Fulton County Tax
See BUDGET, Page 13
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Public Works Director Marty Martin discusses his funding requests for 2025 at the first budget workshop April 30 at City Springs April 30.
NEWS ANALYSIS
City bars public access to council budget talks By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Keying on a developing economy From left, Paul Corely, regional president of Empire Communities; Warren Jolly, president of The Providence Group; Freda Hardage, community liaison for Northside Hospital and MARTA Board member; and John Hunt, founder and president of MarketNsight, discuss available housing in North Fulton County. See story, Page 7.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Appen Media staff reporter Hayden Sumlin, Director of Content & Development Carl Appen and Publisher Hans Appen were all denied entry to a public meeting April 30 in which the Sandy Springs City Council was discussing the 2025 budget. Sumlin arrived to Sandy Springs City Hall first, intending to report the council’s discussion as he does with all important public meetings. Security stopped him in the lobby, saying they were unsure whether he was allowed to proceed. After checking with city staff in the upstairs conference room where the council had gathered, a security officer informed Sumlin they had been instructed to deny entry to anyone seeking to attend
To our readers A news analysis provides a perspective on events from the point of view of the writer who is qualified to speak to the subject. It frees the author to take measured steps away from pure reporting and include opinion, backed by evidence, to make a point. Appen Media strives for objectivity in all its news content and clearly marks articles that include opinion.
the meeting. The justification given, incorrectly, was that the event was not open to the public. By Georgia law, anytime a quorum, or
See ACCESS, Page 8