Atlanta, GA

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TIA Data

2023 Financial State of Atlanta (Released 02/27/2024)

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Atlanta owes more than it owns.
Atlanta has a -$3,060 Taxpayer Burden.™
Atlanta is a Sinkhole City without enough assets to cover its debt.
Decisions by elected officials have created a Taxpayer Burden™, which is each taxpayer's share of city bills after its available assets have been tapped.
TIA's Taxpayer Burden™ measurement incorporates all assets and liabilities, including retirement obligations.
Atlanta only has $3.3 billion of assets available to pay bills totaling $3.8 billion.
Because Atlanta doesn't have enough money to pay its bills, it has a -$521.2 million financial hole. To erase this shortfall, each Atlanta taxpayer would have to send -$3,060 to the city.
Atlanta's reported net position is inflated by $408.5 million, largely because the city defers recognizing losses incurred when retirement liabilities increase.
The city's financial report was released 175 days after its fiscal year end, which is considered timely according to the 180 day standard.

SNAPSHOT BY THE NUMBERS
  • Atlanta's Bills Exceed Its Assets
  • Assets * $21,613
  • Less: Capital Assets * $15,270
  • Restricted Assets * $3,060
  • Assets Available to Pay Bills * $3,283
  • Less: Bills * $3,804
  • Money Available (Needed) to Pay Bills * ($521)
  • Each Taxpayer's Surplus (Burden) ($3,100)
  • The Bills Atlanta has Accumulated
  • State Bonds * $7,818
  • Other Liabilities * $1,607
  • Less: Debt Related to Capital Assets * $7,893
  • Unfunded Pension Benefits * $1,516
  • Unfunded Retirees' Health Care Benefits * $756
  • Bills * $3,804
  • * figures in millions
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