Dunwoody's council voted 5-1 for a $1.59 million police storage building, taking $442,095 from reserves and $320,000 from police vehicle and equipment funds.
The Dunwoody City Council has approved a dedicated storage building for the Police Department at 4470 N. Shallowford Road. Staff recommended a construction bid of $1,589,504, more than three times the money left in the project’s budget.
The council voted 5-1 on Monday, Oct. 26. Mayor Lynn Deutsch and council members Stacey Harris, Tom Lambert, Catherine Lautenbacher and Rob Price voted yes. Council Member John Heneghan voted no, and Council Member Joe Seconder was absent. The vote is recorded in the city’s meeting summary.
Why the department wants it
The department’s equipment has grown with the city’s public safety needs, according to the memo to the council from Deputy Police Chief Oliver Fladrich. The memo lists what needs a home:
- equipment and supplies
- evidence-related support materials
- training resources
- emergency-response assets
- seasonal and event equipment
Current storage is “limited, dispersed, and not designed to securely or efficiently support police operations,” the memo says. A single building would improve “accountability, readiness, and protection of City-owned assets,” it says.
Who builds it
The memo recommends awarding the bid to Eastern Builders for $1,589,504. The award is subject to confirmation that the contract, insurance and installation requirements are met.
The meeting summary words the motion differently. It records that a representative of Comprehensive Program Services presented the contract. It says the council approved “the contract with Comprehensive Program Services for the Public Safety Storage Building.” The summary names no amount. Finance Director Richard Platto answered council members’ questions about funding, the summary says.
How the city would pay for it
The building had a $700,000 budget in the city’s SPLOST I fund, money from the special purpose local option sales tax for capital projects. Of that, $256,989 is committed to design and project management. That leaves $443,011 for construction.
To close the gap, staff proposed moving money from four places:
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| SPLOST I, money left in the project budget | $443,011 |
| SPLOST II, from police vehicles ($100,000) and police equipment ($220,000) | $320,000 |
| Unallocated capital money from the Shallowford Road property sale | $384,400 |
| General Fund reserves | $442,095 |
| Total | $1,589,506 |
The moves would leave:
- Police vehicles (SPLOST II): $719,000, down from $819,000
- Police equipment (SPLOST II): $37,000, down from $257,000
- Shallowford Road sale proceeds: $1,452,001 still unallocated
- Reserves used in the 2027 budget: $3,278,850, up from $2,836,755
The memo says the changes will be written into the city’s fiscal 2027 operating and capital budget.
What it means for you
The storage building does not change what you pay. It does change the 2027 budget, which is still open for comment.
The city’s proposed budget already drew about $2.8 million from reserves, as we reported in our look at the proposed 2027 budget. This vote adds $442,095 to that draw. The council holds public hearings on the budget Monday, Nov. 16, and Monday, Nov. 30, before adoption. Council meetings include public comment, 3 minutes a speaker. Agendas are posted on the city’s agenda site.
For how the city’s tax rate compares with its neighbors, see our property taxes page. For the department’s weekly calls and arrests, see the Police and Fire log.
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