City of Atlanta Advances Opportunity for All with Historic Neighborhood Reinvestment Act, FY2027 Budget Adoption and FIFA World Cup Hosting

City of Atlanta Advances Opportunity for All with Historic Neighborhood Reinvestment Act, FY2027 Budget Adoption, and FIFA World Cup Hosting

ATLANTA - Today marks a defining moment for the City of Atlanta as City leaders approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and the Opportunity for All: Neighborhood Reinvestment Act while welcoming visitors from around the globe for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The Atlanta City Council adopted Mayor Andre Dickens' FY 2027 budget, a historic $3.2 billion balanced spending plan that includes a $994.6 million allocation to the City's General Fund. The budget takes effect July 1, 2026, and continues the Administration's commitment to safe communities, strong families, thriving neighborhoods and opportunity for all residents.

Mayor Andre Dickens summed up the gravity of this historic moment for Atlanta.

"Today is one of those moments where Atlanta chooses what kind of city we are going to become. For generations, Atlanta has been a city that creates opportunity, but we must also acknowledge a hard truth-that opportunity has not reached every neighborhood or every family equally.

"For too long, we have lived with the reality of two Atlantas, where a child's ZIP code can determine their access to housing, education, economic opportunity and even how long they are expected to live. That is unacceptable, and today we are taking historic action to close the book on a tale of two cities.

"The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative is about closing those gaps. It is about investing in the neighborhoods and people who built Atlanta, protecting legacy residents, creating pathways to prosperity, and making sure every child - no matter where they are born - has the chance to dream, grow, and thrive.

"As we welcome the world for FIFA World Cup 2026, we are showing the world the best of Atlanta. But our greatest legacy will not be measured by what happens on the field. It will be measured by whether we used this moment to build a stronger, fairer city for the generations who will call Atlanta home long after the final whistle.

"Because all of Atlanta deserves the best of Atlanta."

Key Investments

The FY2027 budget sustains and advances the priorities that define the administration's work:

• Public Safety: Continued investment in competitive compensation, training, equipment, and vehicles for public safety personnel.
• Affordable Housing: Support for the City's goal to build or preserve 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030.
• Neighborhood Reinvestment: Funding for the continued build-out of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, directing investment toward housing, infrastructure, transit, and economic opportunity in historically underserved communities.
• Year of the Youth: Continued support for youth initiatives, including the Summer Youth Employment Program and At-Promise Centers

The $994.6 million General Fund supports staffing, day-to-day operations, and core services across all 12 City Council districts. The plan was developed with input from City Council, the Department of Finance, and leaders and employees across the administration, and it maintains the City's long-standing requirement of a balanced budget.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) legislation is focused on confronting persistent inequities in South and West Atlanta, where challenges related to housing, education, economic opportunity, food access, public safety and health continue to impact residents' quality of life and long-term outcomes.

"This moment represents a fundamental shift in how Atlanta invests in its people and neighborhoods. For too long, cities have measured success by what we build-buildings, roads and projects-but the true measure of progress is whether the lives of our residents improve. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative creates a new model: one where every public dollar is connected to outcomes like stronger families, stable housing, safer communities, better access to opportunity and healthier neighborhoods," said Chief of Staff Courtney English. "This budget and this legislation are about keeping Atlanta a city where growth and opportunity move together. We are honoring the communities that built this city by making historic investments to ensure they are part of its future."

The package is built around six interconnected reforms, including a new NRI Impact Framework, the extension of six Tax Allocation Districts, creation of a City Council-controlled NRI Trust Fund, updates to the Invest Atlanta intergovernmental agreement, reforms to TAD Advisory Committees, and a comprehensive Anti-Displacement Playbook featuring more than 20 proposed protections for legacy residents and businesses.

You can learn more about the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative at atlneighborhoods.org or by visiting atl.direct/nri

Together, these milestones reflect Atlanta's commitment to creating opportunity, investing in neighborhoods, and ensuring residents benefit from the city's growth.

The Opportunity for All: Neighborhood Reinvestment Act establishes a comprehensive framework to support affordable housing production and preservation, neighborhood revitalization, anti-displacement strategies, and equitable economic development.

The FY2027 Budget continues investments in public safety, affordable housing, infrastructure, parks, youth programs, and quality-of-life improvements while maintaining Atlanta's strong financial position.

You can view the Proposed FY2027 Budget online here.

Continued Fiscal Strength

The City's financial discipline continues to earn national recognition. Fitch Ratings affirmed Atlanta's AAA General Obligation credit rating, Standard & Poor's upgraded the Department of Watershed Management's senior-lien bonds to AA, and Fitch upgraded Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to AA, citing its strong market position and competitive cost structure.

"This is a balanced budget that meets the moment - funding the services residents rely on while protecting the City's long-term financial health," said Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla. "It reflects both fiscal responsibility and our commitment to the priorities that move Atlanta forward."

As Atlanta hosts FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, the City is demonstrating how global events can create local opportunity and long-term community benefits.

The combined impact of these initiatives strengthens Atlanta's future through strategic investment, economic mobility, and neighborhood opportunity.

About the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) is the City of Atlanta's long-term strategy to address historic inequities through coordinated investments in housing, economic mobility, youth opportunity, infrastructure, public safety, and community stabilization. The NRI Impact Framework establishes a citywide accountability structure designed to ensure that public investment leads to measurable improvements in quality of life for residents in historically underserved communities.