Lee: 44 New County Jobs Not That New

The Cobb Commission Chairman spoke Tuesday at the Vinings Business Association.

Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee said Tuesday that the 44 new jobs included in the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget aren’t really all that new. He was was addressing the Vinings Business Association when a member asked if the 44 additional positions in the 2013 budget were really “new” or if they would replace positions that had been eliminated in the past. Lee’s answer was yes and no and he used the magistrate court as an example. “Two years ago the legislature in their wisdom decided to write a new law that shifted the workload from state court to magistrate,” he said. “I’m not quite sure why, but when they did that they didn’t change the fee structure (…) Yes, I’m adding positions to the magistrate court, but what they failed to …

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BOC to Vote to Inspect Pedestrian Bridges

The Cobb Board of Commissioners will be discussing and approving many projects for Cobb County tonight.

After presenting the county budget for fiscal year 2013, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will vote to approve the inspection of roughly 35 pedestrian bridges in the county as part of their regular meeting on Tuesday night. Unlike vehicle bridges, which are inspected bi-annually by GDOT, pedestrian bridges are not subject to any state or federal inspection authorities, though state and federal authorities suggest the same bi-annual inspection process. It is up to each county to determine how to inspect its pedestrian bridges. Cobb County is planning to award a SPLOST-funded $97,853.25 contract to AECOM Technical Services, Inc., to produce a master list of county pedestrian bridges. This project will also include determining the ownership …

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Cobb Commission Set to Adopt Budget

The fiscal year 2012 spending plan is on Tuesday's meeting agenda.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners is set to vote Tuesday on the 2012 budget, which includes a tax increase to make up a possible $33 million deficit.  The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the BOC board room on the second floor, 100 Cherokee Street in downtown Marietta. The county raised the rate from 9.6 mills to 11.11 mills for the year that ends Sept. 30. Tax bills went out in mid-August. On a $140,000 to $160,000 house, the increase averages $82.67 more per year. On a $190,000 to $210,000 home, the increase averages $111.66 per year. Property taxes make up 58 percent of the county's general fund. With the tax increase, the county is able now to fill some public safety positions that were frozen, said Jim Pehrson, finance director. "It …

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Citizens Committee's Cuts Upset Residents

The commissioners held the only public hearing on the proposed 2012 budget Tuesday afternoon.

Cobb County's proposed fiscal 2012 budget doesn't include any furlough days for the county's 4,200 employees, or any layoffs. But it does include some fee increases and service reductions, plus other cost-saving measures. We are live at the public hearing on the budget, where a crowd is gathering. Library hours have been cut as well as hours at the aquatic center. In personnel, 66 unfilled positions will be eliminated. The county is also looking to privatize the Cobblestone Golf Course. Cobb County's proposed general fund budget for fiscal 2012, which starts Oct. 1, is expected to be about $4 million more than the current $317 million budget that was revised in April. However, the $321.7 million proposal is $6.3 million less than the $328 …

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PatchCast

No Furloughs; Neuman's Wife Testifies; Kell Band March-A-Thon; Bagel Artistry

A sampling of Cobb-area headlines for Thursday, Aug. 25.

To learn more about today's featured stories, click the links below:  No Furloughs in 2012 Cobb Budget Neuman's Wife Testifies in Court Kell Band to Hold March-A-Thon Saturday The Art of Bagel-Making in Acworth

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Cobb Budget Plan Gets a Look

Commission will examine fiscal year 2012 spending on Tuesday.

The Cobb County commissioners will get a first look at the 2012 budget during a work session Tuesday afternoon.  Chairman Tim Lee said Friday that the county's 2012 budget will be about $8 million less than the $317 million 2011 budget, the Marietta Daily Journal is reporting. Lee also told the MDJ he does not expect any layoffs or furloughs of the county's 4,200 employees in the new budget year. Since May 1, county employees have been forced to take five unpaid days off to help balance the current year's budget. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 last month in favor of raising taxes to make up a possible $33 million deficit in the 2012 fiscal year. Commissioners Bob Ott and JoAnn Birrell voted against the proposal. The …

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East Cobb POV: Tim Langley

Dear Cobb Commissioners: Don't Raise Taxes

Our columnist, a small-business owner, says the economic impact will be severe.

Sirs and Madams: While I know we certainly have a difficult budget situation at hand, I don't feel the answer is as simple as raising the property tax millage rate. Whatever decision is made will have long-term implications for every Cobb County stakeholder. As a matter of background, I am a native of Cobb County, an Honorary Life Member of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, a Leadership Cobb Alumni (Class of '86) and former banker and commercial real estate broker. I have been involved in economic development for the county, as well. Economic Development Impact: One of the things that has made Cobb County attractive to businesses considering moving here is the quality of life we enjoy. From THEIR perspective, "quality of life" has more to do …

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Birrell Seeks Input on Cobb Tax Hike

East Cobb commissioner polling citizens before Tuesday's hearing on proposed property tax increase.

District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell would like resident input about whether or not to raise Cobb County property taxes to balance the budget. "I ask that you provide me with your perspective about the proposed property tax increase," Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said in her District 3 Update email. "As your Commissioner, I need your input." Birrell, elected in November, represents East Cobb and Northeast Cobb north of Roswell Road. Earlier this year, she unequivocally said she would not support raising the millage rate as the county grappled with a $31 million deficit. The 10 percent cuts to all county departments included five days of furloughs for county employees, including police, fire and emergency personnel.  But at Birrell's recent …

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East Cobb POV: Tim Langley

Cobb Must Produce a More Stable Tax Base

Some ideas on moving away from a system based heavily on property values.

A major problem for local governments all over the country (and especially Cobb County, Georgia) is the effect on revenues due to shrinking property values. Most local governments fund their budgets by way of property taxes.   From the government's perspective, property taxes are a great way to fund government services. Property values are generally stable and usually increase at a reasonable rate. As such, local governments have (in the past) been able to predict with some certainty how much money they will have to spend in the next year's budget. Some communities even get somewhat creative with their "No Tax Increase" pledges by simply reassessing everyone's property as a function of general inflation in real estate values. However, what…

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