Brookhaven Mayor John Park said the city is in strong financial shape during his state-of-the-city address to guests at the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Sept. 24.
“We have moved beyond the early work of incorporation and foundation-building,” he told a crowd of about 120 attendees at City Centre. “We are now in a different chapter, one that asks us to think carefully about what kind of city we want to become, how we invest in that future, and how we make sure Brookhaven remains a place where people feel safe, connected, welcomed, and proud to belong.”
Park credited the city’s police force for a reduction in crime. In 2025, he said all eight FBI Index crimes decreased in Brookhaven, with overall criminal activity decreasing by 12 percent from the year before, and violent and property index crimes down by 20 percent.
“We are moving forward,” he said, “and that forward motion is possible because of a simple idea that continues to define Brookhaven: We are better together.”
Park said Brookhaven officials are transparent about how public dollars are invested, adding that a recent property millage rate increase will “maintain the level of service our residents expect and deserve.”
“That was not a decision made lightly. It was a decision grounded in responsibility,” he said. “Even with that adjustment, Brookhaven still has the second-lowest millage rate among DeKalb County cities municipalities and remains considerably less than the DeKalb rate.”
Brookhaven is one of only six cities in Georgia with double AAA bond ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, he said. “Those ratings are not just plaques on a wall. They translate into lower borrowing costs and real savings for taxpayers — savings that help fund parks, infrastructure, stormwater, and pedestrian projects.”
Growing smarter
The Northbend development, he said, is a major example of smart growth. The $605 million development will replace the Corporate Square office park with a mixed-use complex that includes townhomes, multifamily units, retail and dining, a medical office hub, and five acres of greenspace.
In addition, Park pointed out another private investment with BMW that will bring $150 million in private investment to the area, which will include $8 million dedicated to trail, connectivity, and infrastructure improvements within the Peachtree Creek Greenway corridor, without tax abatements.
Regarding connectivity, Park said that the city has added 109 acres of greenspace, and “today 75 percent of Brookhaven is within a 10-minute walk of a park.”
“That is something to be proud of, but it is also a foundation to build on,” he said. “Projects such as Peachtree Creek Greenway Phase II, the Caldwell Road infill sidewalk project, the Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge, the Murphey Candler II Trail Project, and the Briarwood Road Multi-Use Path represent more than infrastructure improvements. They represent a vision of Brookhaven where residents can move safely and conveniently through their city.”
