Extra World Cup police duty puts a $91,180 award before council

Atlanta asked Sandy Springs police to cover more World Cup event days, and city staff says that extra duty produced a $91,179.79 grant award. Council is scheduled Oct. 20 to consider accepting the additional funding and adding it to the city’s budget.⁠[1][2]

The award covers eligible overtime for event dates June 15–27, according to Grant Administrator Dabney Brand’s memo. Staff warns that declining the money would leave the city ineligible for reimbursement of those eligible costs.⁠[1]

The proposed fiscal 2027 amendment lists $111,790.79 in added grant revenue and spending authority. That is not all new award money: staff also proposes carrying forward funds from the earlier grant.⁠[1]

But the packet gives conflicting accounts of whose overtime the amendment would cover. Its budget worksheet assigns $22,358.16 to police overtime and $89,432.63 to fire overtime. The memo explains additional police coverage, and the proposed ordinance likewise describes police overtime and related costs. The documents do not explain why most of the worksheet’s spending is assigned to fire.⁠[1]

This is a proposed budget action, not council approval or confirmation that the additional reimbursement has been paid. Council’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Studio Theatre at City Hall, 1 Galambos Way.⁠[1][2]