Atlanta, Let’s Go Higher

For more than 20 years, the ACP has forged a partnership between our Mayor and business leaders to support positive change in Atlanta. Together, we’ve taken big strides to strengthen the city’s financial position, spur economic development, invest in infrastructure and public safety, support our public schools, and enhance the quality of life in our city. And much more is possible.

We are ready to accelerate Atlanta’s competitiveness for residents, businesses and investment. With bold priorities and measurable goals, Atlanta can achieve its unequaled potential over the next five to 10 years. It will remain critical to ensure the future success of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta Beltline, and Westside development. In addition, focus is needed on key priorities to help Atlanta Go Higher.

Scroll

Maintain a
Financially Strong City

Fiscal health is fundamental to a successful city. A strong balance sheet, ample cash reserves and efficient delivery of services enable Atlanta to invest, grow and expand opportunity for all its citizens. The City of Atlanta 's current credit rating is AAA, the highest in the history of the city. Atlanta is now positioned to attract more businesses and greater investment in our local economy and infrastructure projects. In addition, the city's reserves have equaled at least 20% of spending since fiscal 2012 and nearly 23% in fiscal 2023. The ratings reflect the city's skillful fiscal management and stewardship of city finances.

Goal

Maintain the city’s general fund reserves above 20 percent of its operating budget while continuing to maintain the AAA credit rating.

Why It Matters

Atlanta must continue to maintain it's strong balance sheet, improve its expenditure-to-reserve ratio and maintain a well-funded pension plan. It must be prepared to respond to the next economic downturn and unforeseen circumstances, without draining its cash reserves. A robust rainy day fund also allows Atlanta to maintain it's AAA credit status to remain competitive with peer cities such as Austin, Charlotte, Denver and Seattle. A top-tier rating expands Atlanta’s capacity to access credit markets for bond financing and municipal improvement projects that expand growth and opportunity for all citizens.

What It will Take

Maintaining the city’s general fund reserves at above 20 percent of budget will require a Mayor and City Council who wisely manage the city’s revenues and expenditures, prudently oversee the city’s airport and watershed enterprise funds, and develop and approve balanced budgets without imposing undue tax increases on citizens. They must exercise discipline to outpace inflation with cost control and efficiencies in delivery services. In addition, pension costs and investments must be well-managed to sustain pension funding levels, with improved governance. It’s a process that requires strong fiscal management and oversight.

Expand Opportunity
for All

While it’s important to note that poverty rates in our region have declined, Atlanta continues to face significant income inequality and has been ranked as one of the cities with the highest income inequality gaps in the United States. A quarter of residents still live below the poverty line or struggle to make ends meet. Through our neighborhood revitalization efforts, we are committed to expanding access to jobs across all skill levels, increasing affordable housing with transit connectivity, and supporting a low cost of living to bridge this gap and foster greater economic equity.

Goal

Increase access to jobs through workforce development and thriving affordable neighborhoods.

Why It Matters

Our city cannot fulfill its potential unless more of our citizens have access to the middle class. Rising income inequality is a major barrier to overall growth and development of the city. A quarter of Atlanta’s residents live in poverty while unemployment rates for low-skill and mid-skill jobs outpace the region. No one wins if the city is divided between the haves and the have-nots.

What It will Take

Atlanta can leverage its concentration of Fortune 500 and high growth companies to create a stronger pipeline from high school to technical training to jobs matched with skill level. Working with public and private organizations to support job development and career preparedness, beginning with public school students, is also essential. By taking a balanced approach to growth through initiatives like the city's Achieving Fairness of Place project, which makes targeted, large-scale investments in housing, public infrastructure, transportation, education, wealth creation, public safety, and health & wellness, we can create the conditions necessary to foster healthy, productive citizens throughout the city.

Strengthen Student Achievement

Over the past several years, Atlanta has made great strides to improve its public education system through dynamic new leadership, an action-oriented turnaround plan, and new public-private partnerships. The School Board and Atlanta Public School system (APS) have come a long way since a cheating scandal and the potential loss of accreditation in 2010. Now we must commit to build upon the gains in student graduation rates and achievement, and better prepare students for career success.

Goal

Improve the college graduation rate and career readiness of APS students.

Why It Matters

Raising the number of students who graduate not only from high school but also from college and/or technical schools is critical for the success of the city. The school district’s leaders have worked to improve high school graduation rates and those efforts must continue. Atlanta must also push to see those who graduate from high school go on to complete either a two-year or four-year degree program or enroll in job training that leads to employment. While APS high school graduation rates have increased significantly to 84 percent, the college completion rate is about 15 percent.

What It will Take

We need to continue to support partnerships, such as Achieve Atlanta, that assist APS students in pursuing and completing post-secondary education to improve college graduation rates. Additionally, investing in partnerships for career preparation in APS high schools, job training, and placement services is essential, including programs targeting non-college-educated youth and ex-offenders working to improve their life outcomes. Emphasizing skilled trades is also crucial, as it provides accessible, high-demand career paths that equip students and community members with valuable, marketable skills for long-term success.

Reducing
Homelessness

Reducing homelessness is essential to building a strong, compassionate, and resilient Atlanta. By supporting targeted investments in affordable housing, wraparound services, and coordinated outreach efforts, the city can address the root causes of homelessness and provide sustainable solutions for those in need. Through collaborative efforts with community partners, Atlanta can create pathways to stable housing, improve public health and safety, and foster inclusive, thriving neighborhoods for all residents.

Goal

Make Homelessness Rare, Brief, and Non-Recurring.

Why It Matters

Reducing homelessness is crucial for Atlanta, where over 2,000 people experience homelessness on any given night and nearly 5,000 individuals rely on shelters or supportive housing throughout the year. Addressing homelessness enhances public safety, promotes economic stability, and improves quality of life for all residents. By reducing these numbers, Atlanta can alleviate the strain on public services, lower emergency healthcare costs, and foster a more inclusive city where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Ensuring access to stable housing and essential services is key to building a healthier, more resilient Atlanta capable of supporting its growing population.

What It will Take

TBD

Keep Atlanta Safe

Atlanta has seen substantial progress in reducing crime, with major crime rates declining significantly over the years. Under the leadership of Police Chief Darin Schierbaum and with support from Mayor Andre Dickens, public safety continues to be a top priority. The city's police force has been strengthened, with investments in new policing technology and a renewed emphasis on community policing to address neighborhood concerns and build trust within communities. While Atlanta is on a positive trajectory, reducing violent crime and enhancing public safety remain key areas for ongoing focus and strategic investment.

The city invested in new policing technology and worked with neighborhood stakeholders to ensure that their concerns were being heard and addressed through a new focus on community policing. While the city is on the right trajectory, there remains more work to do — and this should be a key focus area of the next administration.

Goal

Continue to reduce crime by strengthening public safety through community trust, advanced technology, and focused efforts on youth engagement and repeat offender prevention.

Why It Matters

No city can thrive when crime is high. Residents don’t feel safe and live in fear, more vulnerable young people become susceptible to gangs and violence, neighborhoods falter, and economic development and investment tapers off — sometimes grinding to a halt. That’s not the future we envision for Atlanta, and we look forward to working with a Mayor and City Council that continue to make public safety its number one priority.

What It will Take

To keep Atlanta safe, city leaders must continue to invest in the police department with cutting-edge technology such as gunshot sensors and surveillance information technology, maintain our recruitment, training and retention efforts for police officers, and partner with the Atlanta Police Foundation. In addition, city data shows that repeat offenders account for more than 7,000 crimes in a year — and nearly three in four receive no jail time. A new approach to address repeat offenders could translate into a meaningful reduction in crime. Finally, efforts such as the @Promise Youth Center that offers youth a second chance and services for improving their lives, have the potential to seed a generational impact in Atlanta.