Support the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative & Extension of the Tax Allocation Districts

As residents of the City of Atlanta, we are alarmed that neighborhoods in the South and West of Atlanta have far less access to opportunities than other neighborhoods in the city. In fact, many children still face unjustifiable disparities in their chances for success. Across almost every metric, whether child poverty or homeownership rates or graduation rates, some communities are faring worse than the rest of Atlanta.

This didn't happen by accident.

To reverse this cycle of historical disinvestment, we must intentionally bring resources to these communities to build opportunities so that every child can reach their potential.

As such, we call upon the Atlanta City Council, Fulton County Commission, and the Atlanta Board of Education to support the historic Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative and extension of the Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) to create whole, safe, healthy, thriving, and connected neighborhoods for everyone.

A vital solution that will help us reach this goal is to extend the TADs, which are vital for Atlanta's future and help create healthier neighborhoods, grow economic development and jobs, build affordable housing, enhance quality education, and increase our investment in kids.

TADs are a vital funding tool, recognized across the country as a best-in-class practice for economic development and neighborhood investment.

TADs bring business activity, economic development, and affordability. They are vital for Atlanta's future and help create healthier neighborhoods, grow economic development and jobs, build affordable housing, enhance quality education, and increase our investment in kids.

TADs do not divert revenue growth that would have happened anyway. On the contrary, previous TAD-financed investments have clearly catalyzed private investment in otherwise underinvested neighborhoods.

TADs do not raise taxes.

TADs' transparency and accountability are built into every level of the program, by both state law and city governance structures. All TAD spending, including that of the Beltline TAD, has been administered and overseen by Invest Atlanta, the City's legally designated redevelopment agent.

TADs are one of several vital tools the city utilizes alongside Atlanta Housing, Atlanta Urban Development Corporation (AUDC), and Invest Atlanta to finance deeply affordable units, preserve legacy housing, and expand access for families earning below 50% AMI.

TADs are not a diversion of public-school resources. They are an investment in the conditions that improve educational outcomes, family stability, and neighborhood vitality. A strong school system requires strong neighborhoods, and TADs remain one of the few scalable, transparent, and community-directed tools to make that connection real.

TADs can have a transformative impact that protects legacy residents, revitalizes communities, and creates balanced growth throughout the city, which will reduce crime, grow our tax base, and ultimately build an Atlanta that works for everyone.

TADs and implementation of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative will help make Atlanta the best major city in the country to raise a child.

Therefore, we respectfully, but emphatically, urge the members of the Atlanta City Council, Fulton County Commission, and the Atlanta Board of Education to support the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative and the extension of the TADs to help our city achieve balanced growth that will benefit everyone.