An Atlanta City Council finance committee unanimously advanced a proposal Tuesday to create a permanent Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. The full council has not yet considered the measure, which is scheduled to go before members at their next meeting.
If approved, the office would coordinate services for the 16,000 military veterans living within Atlanta’s city limits. Councilman Jason Dozier introduced the resolution last week, saying the city’s support efforts have historically been handled piecemeal rather than through a dedicated department.
The proposal gives Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration one year to identify funding and establish the office. City officials have not announced a funding source, the total budget or where the office would be located.
The proposal follows years of inactivity at Atlanta’s municipal veterans commission. Established in 2013, the commission has not met in five years, according to council members, who said it lacked designated staff to organize and direct its work.
Marcus Jones
News Now Georgia
