Thursday, February 17, 2011
Ott opposes property tax hike, dipping into reserves to make up for shortfall.
Finance officials are predicting Cobb County could end the fiscal year in September with a $28 million shortfall if nothing changes. The challenging news -- delivered just five months into FY 2011 -- was presented to county department heads and elected officials Thursday during a retreat in Kennesaw. “The ship is running out of gas,” said Jim Pehrson, finance director. “Challenges are ahead of us.” It is a sentiment shared throughout the metro Atlanta area in large and small counties alike. Cherokee, a smaller county than Cobb, is looking at a $7 million shortfall for both the general and fire district funds in 2012. Revenues are simply not keeping up with the expenditures, Pehrson said. The continued decline in property values has hurt …
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Birrell supports new contract for Cobb manager while Ott cites fiscal reasons for voting against.
In a split vote Tuesday night, the Cobb Board of Commissioners approved a three-year extension to the county manager’s contract. At the recommendation of chairman Tim Lee, the commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of giving County Manager David Hankerson, whose current contract expires Jan. 31, three more years, no salary increase this year and no automatic renewal to his contract at its conclusion. In the hard economic times facing the county “we need stability in leadership that we have in him,” said Northeast Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who along with Lee and Helen Goreham voted in favor of the extension. After the vote, the room erupted in applause. Two commissioners voted against the three-year extension–commissioners Bob Ott and …
Monday, January 24, 2011
Ott won't support multi-year deal for Cobb County Manager; Birrell won't disclose position.
The chairman of the Cobb Board of Commissioners is proposing that a new contract for the county manager include a three-year extension, no pay increase and no automatic renewal. David Hankerson, who’s been county manager since 1993, has a current contract—which includes $273,464 in salary and perks—that expires Jan. 31. It included an automatic renewal and an eight percent pay increase. Last fall some commissioners indicated a desire to renegotiate the contract. Commissioner Woody Thompson said last week that the review of Hankerson’s contract was simply a prudent move in a poor economy. No county employees have received a pay increase since 2008. Under the new contract, any increase in Hankerson's salary would be subject to a vote by …
Friday, January 21, 2011
The majority of commissioners indicate they're happy with Hankerson, who has been under scrutiny in recent months.
The specifics of Cobb County Manager David Hankerson’s future with the county could be decided Tuesday. After reviewing his contract in executive session this week, the county commissioners are set to vote on it at Tuesday night’s meeting. Commissioners were mum this week on the proposed changes or amendments to the contract. In recent months Hankerson has come under scrutiny for several financial moves and other practices by the county under his leadership. Last fall some commissioners indicated a desire to renegotiate the long-time county manager’s contract. Commissioner Woody Thompson said this week that the review of Hankerson’s contract was never to get rid of him, but a prudent move in a poor economy. “We’re looking at all these …
Thomas Palmer
5:56 pm on Friday, February 18, 2011
Here we go again. Spending is always the priority. When the budget is in the red, sock it to the taxpayers. Hey COBB COUNTY TAX MAN raise those property taxes....or threaten to if SPLOST tax is not continued on March 15th. HOLY CANOLI !!! we have such creative dunces in our county government. Threaten to raise property taxes to get the budget in order. Why not stop paying $16 million for … more ›