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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

TBD

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.

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.