Atlanta mayor agrees to sell city jail

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has agreed to sell the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County.

In a letter to Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts and other board members, the mayor accepted the county’s offer to purchase the jail for $68 million.

Dickens says the agreement will deliver more than $600 million in value to Fulton County taxpayers.

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He says the deal “[leverages] existing detention capacity and avoiding substantially greater future capital costs. Additionally, this structure protects City employees and maintains diversion center operations.”

The agreement will still need to be approved by Atlanta City Council and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

“This is an example of what can be accomplished when local governments work together toward solutions that are fiscally responsible, operationally sound and centered on people,” the mayor said in a statement.

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