
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | July 1, 2025
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson hosted her first Metro Atlanta Chairs Meeting this week. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together leaders from the region’s largest counties to tackle shared challenges and spark regional cooperation, particularly in areas such as transportation, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development, and public safety.
Held in DeKalb County, the quarterly meeting welcomed Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson of Gwinnett County, Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry of Clayton County, and Chairman Robb Pitts of Fulton County. Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid was unable to attend but remains an active participant in the five-county coalition representing over half of Georgia’s population.
The leaders focused on key regional issues, including transportation, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development, and public safety—areas that require cross-county coordination to achieve lasting solutions.
“This meeting allowed us to have productive conversations on how we can work together as a region,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “These challenges don’t stop at county lines, and collaboration is key.”
The Metro Atlanta Chairs Meeting rotates among counties, and this marked DeKalb’s first time hosting under Cochran-Johnson’s leadership. She emphasized the importance of unified strategies, shared knowledge, and strong partnerships in addressing complex regional issues.
Investing in the Future: DeKalb Acquires Strategic Property on Memorial Drive
In a bold move to spur redevelopment, DeKalb County has completed the $18.1 million purchase of 4380 Memorial Drive—a 24-acre site with 200,000 square feet of buildings that the county had rented for more than two decades.
“After renting this property for 25 years, DeKalb County now owns it, and that’s a major win for our future,” said Cochran-Johnson. “We’re looking forward to making this site work for the community as part of our long-term commitment to building economic development in DeKalb.”
The site is located near MARTA’s Kensington station, making it a prime location for a transit-oriented, mixed-use development. Jacob Vallo, DeKalb’s new Chief Development Officer and a veteran in metro Atlanta real estate, led the acquisition.
“This land is a transit-oriented development site that serves as a significant opportunity to increase the momentum of the Memorial Drive revitalization,” Vallo said.
The investment in the strategic property on Memorial Drive was financed through a 10-year tax-exempt bond issued by the DeKalb Urban Redevelopment Authority and purchased by Regions Capital Advantage, Inc. These entities played a crucial role in the acquisition, which is expected to accelerate growth in South DeKalb. The county will work with Decide DeKalb to identify a development partner for the site.
Youth Pipeline Initiative Cultivates Next Generation of Public Safety Leaders
DeKalb County Fire Rescue and the DeKalb County School District wrapped up their Youth Public Safety Pipeline initiative with a Family Field Day celebration on June 27. The event marked the conclusion of the weeklong Xplor Lab Public Safety Camp, which offered hands-on experience to more than 50 middle and high school students.
Camp activities included CPR certification, crime scene simulations, fire science, forensics, and emergency response training. The camp culminated in a full-day session at the DeKalb County Fire Academy, where students worked alongside fire and EMS professionals.
“This partnership is about more than careers—it’s about creating purpose, building leadership, and empowering our youth,” said Fire Chief Darnell Fullum. “We are proud to be at the forefront of a transformative approach to recruitment, education, and community impact.”
The initiative builds a strong pipeline for future public safety professionals and reflects DeKalb County’s commitment to youth empowerment and leadership development.
Record-Setting Tax Relief Announced for Homeowners
DeKalb County homeowners will see significant tax savings in 2025, thanks to the county’s Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) credit, which will provide $206.3 million in property tax relief for residents with homestead exemptions.
“DeKalb County is the only county in the state with a one-penny sales tax that’s dedicated 100 percent to property tax relief,” said Cochran-Johnson. “All residents with a homestead exemption will receive the EHOST credit. Taxpayers have until July 14 to apply.”
Here’s how the credit breaks down:
- A $450,000 home will receive $424.23 in savings.
- A $300,000 home will receive $275.24 in savings.
The $206.3 million will be distributed as follows:
- $193.5 million will be applied to countywide millage rates, including County Operations and the Hospital Fund.
- $12.8 million applied to other millage rates for cities or special county services.
- The remaining funds will be proportionally distributed to cities and unincorporated areas ased on the tax digest.
The Board of Commissioners is reviewing the proposed resolution to adopt the 2025 millage rates. If passed, this initiative will continue providing historic levels of tax relief to DeKalb County residents.
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