…and the mayor is expecting an even larger drop next year, according to GoDeKalb’s coverage of Monday’s city commission meeting.

But new development (valued at $32-$33 million) will help the city maintain a balanced budget in the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009), without raising the millage rate. However, I’m wondering what happened to CDS’ desire to up millage rate by one point to hire more teachers and give raises? Has that been added into the equation yet? Or was it already nixed?

Also according to GoDeKalb, the new budget will include these things: a pilot program for the senior community, a new geographic information system (GIS) and an arts master plan.

An arts master plan? What’s that?

Scott is good enough to point out this note on the Oakhurst message board…

Apparently, there was a break in attempt made yesterday on Johnston, and the 3 suspects were arrested!!  They are in jail right now, and have confessed to some break ins.  I was told that these guys are not the same guys that broke into the house that was in East Atlanta (they were able to tell because the other guys were video taped).  Last week, Dekalb police arrested another group of two–a female and a teenager.

The details that I got were limited–but thought that I would relay the good news to everyone.

Now as many have pointed out, these break-ins aren’t limited to Oakhurst, so we would be naive to think that the threat has been eliminated and heft our big screens back over our fireplaces.  But maybe these arrests will quell the recent string of break-ins that have recently plagued the neighborhood.

If its Memorial Day Weekend, its also gotta be time for the Decatur Arts Festival! 2008 makes this the 20th year for the grand-daddy of all big Decatur festivals.

There’s lots going on this weekend beyond the artist’s market, so make sure to checkout the festival’s own webpage for complete details. Weather should be nice and warm. Or if you want work up your sweat from physical exertion instead of the heat, hike the 30-stop ArtsWalk on Friday night 5p-10p. (Actually you can take the FurBus for the ArtsWalk too, but then its really not a “walk” now, is it?)

Fellow Decatur-loving bloggers Catherine and Lauren are geared up and ready to go.

And so am I. In addition to visiting all the normal haunts, I might stop in to Eddie’s in the afternoon for a drink and a little entertainment before swinging by Worthmore for their “Grand Opening” weekend. Regardless, I’ll have camera in hand and will report back.

Any other non-obvious events going on this weekend that we should be aware of?

[this year's excellent poster is designed by Corey Barksdale]

Both the AJC and Creative Loafing have new and glowing pieces on one of Decatur’s newest, independent restaurants, the Sir Toby Belch inspired “Cakes and Ale“.

The AJC article highlights Cakes and Ale’s beer list and pairing possibilities, while Creative Loafing’s Besha Rodell sounds like she’s become kind of addicted to the place.  She notes the subtle changes to the menu over the past months and praises the “simple” mantra of the establishment.

So, whether you want to drink upscale, enjoy an excellent meal, or just sip a cup of coffee and nibble something sweet, it sounds like the AJC and Creative Loafing agree (extraordinary isn’t it?!) that Cakes and Ale should be a top consideration.

I still remember my initial shock at the price of membership and length of the wait list at the Venetian Pools.  You must excuse my ignorance, since we are DINKS.

But the kids at Oakhurst Elementary cleared it up for me in this morning’s AJC.  Asked what they planned to do this summer, here’s what they said…

“Go swimming in our pool.” – Josh Torrance

“Go to the pool.” – ShaNiya Tanner

“Go to the beach and pool in June and July.” – Samuel Holbrook

“Go to the pool and play in the sprinklers.” – Juan Acosta

Lots of other kids said they wanted to go to the beach, but you know that when they aren’t at the beach, those kids are also in the pool.

Guess we’ll have to take out another mortgage and put our names on the wait list.