Hope Road gets $284,353 for sidewalk prep—not construction

Hope Road’s sidewalk project is getting a $284,353 budget boost—but construction funding remains a future decision. Sandy Springs, Georgia, City Council approved the redistribution of Community Development Block Grant money on Oct. 20.⁠[1][2]

Our earlier report on the proposed sidewalk-budget shuffle described a choice still before council. The city’s meeting record now documents unanimous approval. Budget Manager Michael Val Hietter told council the change would fund all Hope Road phases except construction, anticipated for consideration in the fiscal 2028 budget—not approved by this vote.⁠[1]

The money comes from other sidewalk budgets: $268,182 from Roswell Road Subphase 2, $3,000 from Long Island and $37,000 from Northwood. Hietter reported that the Roswell Road work finished under budget; staff’s accompanying memo attributes the Long Island and Northwood reductions to lower cost estimates. Beyond Hope Road’s increase, $23,829 goes into a program contingency account for future reallocation.⁠[1][2]

Hope Road’s largest addition is $150,000 for utility relocation. Staff says that cost had already been estimated but was not budgeted. The amendment also provides $35,000 for design work on a new headwall, $50,000 for anticipated post-design services and about $54,000 to replenish and recalculate project contingency, partly offset by lower estimates in other phases.⁠[2]

This is a reshuffling of previously budgeted money, not an addition of new funding to the program. Finance staff says the amounts are supported by accumulated fund balance. The approval moves Hope Road’s preparation forward; it does not settle the construction budget or establish a construction start date.⁠[1][2]