Atlanta proposes dropping the fixed sunset on its kiosk-funded tech fund

Atlanta is proposing to replace a June 30, 2026 deadline for unused Smart ATL trust fund money to return to the general fund with a closure rule tied to activity, rather than a fixed calendar date.⁠[1][2]

Under the proposed rewrite, the fund would close two years after its last transaction, or when the chief information officer tells the chief financial officer it is no longer needed—whichever comes first. Continued transactions could therefore keep the fund open without another calendar-date extension. After expenses are paid, the chief financial officer could transfer remaining money to fund balance.⁠[2]

The money comes from the city’s digital kiosks under an agreement with IKE Smart City, LLC, according to the ordinance. With the chief information officer’s approval, Smart ATL supports technology programs addressing safety, mobility, digital infrastructure and digital equity. Both the chief information officer and chief financial officer recommend the closure-rule change.⁠[2]

Ordinance 26-O-1617 appears in the first-reading section of the Finance/Executive Committee’s October 28 draft minutes—nearly four months after the deadline it would replace. That listing is not an approval of the change. The three-page proposal does not give a fund balance or say whether money was returned to the general fund at the June deadline.⁠[1][2]