Letter to the Editor: Cobb Government 'Gone Wild'

This week we received notice that Cobb’s top public safety officer resigned. Our police force is currently approximately eighty (80) police officers short. These jobs have remained unfilled while our commissioners and development agencies spend our tax dollars with abandon on their pet real estate development projects. 

The following actions have been in excess of the Commission’s mission of providing for roads, water, sewer and public safety:

• A plan similar to the Marietta Franklin Road Plan to buy potentially blighted apartment complexes along Six Flags Drive. This decision to spend our tax dollars is being made by unelected bureaucrats on the South Cobb Development Authority. This is particularly concerning since our commissioners recently warned of a possible tax increase due to lack of funds.
• An unauthorized commitment of taxpayer dollars to the Atlanta Braves stadium.
• Tax abatements to the planned John Williams’ Riverwalk development. The owners of these endeavors are billionaires who could readily afford to bankroll their own projects without taking our dollars. [Editor's note: The abatements are before the Development Authority of Cobb County, whose members are appointed by Cobb Commissioners.]
• THOUSANDS of dollars for the mules, Jack and Jill.
• Losses on a purchased golf course and other properties. 
• Unmerited road projects such as the $7.5 MILLION raised medians for a small section of road by Parkaire Mall on Lower Roswell. That project will jeopardize the small businesses along its path and lengthen the already dense lines of traffic at those intersections.

We fear that our legislators are considering “legalizing” these decisions with new legislation this year. That would be very bad for Cobb County and for Georgia.

What do you think? Do county officials have the right priorities in light of the charges made about public safety staffing? Tell us in the comments.