“Give these men and women their jobs back” — Canopy Atlanta

Concerns that funds designated for City worker overtime are being redirected to private contractors were raised at a recent Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee meeting.

Professional Association of City Employees (PACE) President Gina Pagnotta questioned why the Council approved millions of dollars for overtime only for the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) to allegedly divert those funds elsewhere.

Formed in 2019, ATLDOT plans, builds, and maintains Atlanta’s streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and traffic signals to make city travel safer and more accessible. Its operating budget for FY 2026 is about $58.6 million. The department also oversees the Moving Atlanta Forward program, which provides significant funding for transportation improvements, though spending has been slow, reflecting ongoing challenges in project delivery.

“When you hear ‘overtime’ … they’re not saying they just want to milk the bucket or milk the city,” Pagnotta said. “There is work to be done. They are understaffed.” She claimed the department instead used the funds to pay contractors who are also using City equipment.

“What this seems to me is another way that the department—I’m just saying—is trying to outsource,” Pagnotta said, urging the council to remove contractors and “give these men and women their jobs back.” Her remarks drew applause from the room.

ATLDOT employees echoed Pagnotta’s concerns, saying they’ve seen overtime reduced and are uncertain about the department’s future and their job security. “Is [ATLDOT] going to exist in 2026?” asked Joe Banks, speaking on behalf of his colleagues. Dimekko Sidney, an ATLDOT traffic technician, added that many employees feel ignored.

In response, the committee requested a financial analysis of outsourcing costs to be presented at its next meeting.

(Documented by Jane Porfiri; additional reporting by Ada Wood)