Brookhaven Businesses to Offset Street Lighting Costs

Brookhaven businesses will soon begin taking some of the burden off homeowners to help keep the city well-lit.

DeKalb County currently only charges residential property owners to pay for street lights, although some commercial properties are included in these residential street light districts. But that will change starting in 2014.

On Tuesday, the Brookhaven City Council voted unanimously to take over DeKalb’s street light assessment program and expand it to include commercial and multi-unit property owners.

“Right now the residents have been carrying the entire community,” City Manager Marie L. Garrett said. “We want to create a level playing field and ensure the burden of keeping our local streets safe and well-lit is evenly divided amongst homeowners, apartment complex owners and business owners.”

The residential fee, which has been in place since the 1950s, will not change for homeowners. In both 2013 and 2014, they will be billed at the same rate that DeKalb had previously assessed, which varies from 40 to 90 cents per frontage foot.

Commercial property owners who have not been charged will see the fee of 40 cents per frontage foot assessed on their 2014 tax bill.

The fee will be used to pay for power, maintenance and oversight of street lights.

The city anticipates generating $350,000 from street lights in 2013. The city currently has approximately 2,550 street lights.

This article was prepared by the city and edited for publication.