Dunwoody residents would see a smaller city budget next year under a $64.4 million spending plan released Monday, Sept. 28.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget cuts overall spending by 18.2% compared with the current amended budget, according to the city's budget announcement. Mayor Lynn Deutsch and City Manager Eric Linton presented the plan, citing slow revenue growth and lean operations as the driving forces behind the reduction.

Police funding would rise instead. The Dunwoody Police Department's allocation would jump to $17.5 million, up from $14.5 million in the FY2026 proposed budget. That roughly 20% increase comes even as the city trims nearly everywhere else.

Infrastructure and Public Works would drop to $13.4 million, down from $21 million proposed last year. Parks and Recreation would fall to $5.9 million, roughly half of the $9.6 million proposed for FY2026. Both line items include Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds and grants. These comparisons are between proposed budgets; final spending figures may differ.

The city said in its budget letter that some major revenue sources are showing slow growth while inflation continues to push costs higher. Despite the cuts, the proposed budget maintains six months of reserves, exceeding the City Charter's four-month requirement.

In April, when Dunwoody earned its 17th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association, Linton said the city is committed to being "a responsible steward of public funds."

For context, the FY2026 proposed budget totaled $70.5 million and represented just a 0.2% decrease from the prior year. The 18.2% cut in the new proposal is measured against the amended FY2026 budget, which the city has not publicly stated.

The City Council will get its first look at the numbers during a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 8:30 a.m. at the Dunwoody Nature Center's North Woods Pavilion.

Two public hearings follow on Nov. 16 and Nov. 30, both at 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall. Final adoption is expected later this fall. The full proposed budget is available on the city's website, and residents can contact Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher at 678-382-6881 with questions.