Cobb to Vote on Budget and Millage Rate

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on its $1.27 billion budget and millage rate Tuesday night.

County officials have proposed keeping the millage rate flat at 8.46 mills for the general fund and 2.99 mills for the fire fund.

While the tax rate would not increase under the proposal, rising home values will translate to an additional $22.6 million in general fund property tax revenue from last year, increasing from $365.5 million to $388.1 million.

The fire fund, meanwhile, will collect $11.7 million more than it did last year, rising from $138.7 million to $150.4 million.

The proposed tax increase for the owner of a $450,000 home would be $119, according to the county.

Cobb’s general fund millage rate has been the same since 2018, when then-Chairman Mike Boyce raised it by 1.7 mills.

Under Georgia law, rising property value assessments not accompanied by a corresponding millage rate “rollback” that offsets the increase in revenue are considered tax increases and must be advertised as such. In order to collect the same amount of property tax as last year, the county would need to lower the general fund millage rate to 7.761 mills, and the fire fund millage to 2.807 mills.

Budget summary

The $1.27 billion fiscal year 2025 budget is a roughly $76 million increase from last year’s budget. The increase is due in large part to continued pay raises for county employees, increases in contracts, annual maintenance for select facilities and an increase in the county’s self-funded insurance program.

While county department heads requested 382 new full-time positions, only five are included in the proposed budget. No new programs are included.

The proposed budget for the general fund, the main operating fund for the county government, is $624.8 million, up from $583.5 million in last year’s budget, a difference of just over $40 million.

Roughly 62% of the general fund increase is going to public safety, according to the county.

According to Bill Volckmann, the county’s chief financial officer, the proposed budget is unique in that there is $16.5 million in “impact items” — those items that affect future budgets — that the board passed in fiscal year 2024.

Included in the updated list of “impact items” is a step-and-grade plan totaling $8.4 million for public safety personnel that the board passed in May, one of the two biggest items on that list.

‘Roll it back’

More than a dozen residents spoke at a Tuesday hearing on the budget and millage rate, criticizing the commission’s use of tax dollars and asking for a rollback.

Among their complaints were the county’s use of consultants, Sheriff Craig Owens’ horses, the county giving money to charities and plans to hire staff to oversee diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Stop hiring multimillion dollar consultants to do your jobs,” said resident Jan Barton, who also told the commission to “stop giving our tax dollars to your choice of charities” and “stop growing the size of government with employee raises.”

Residents bemoaned reassessments they said have led to dramatic increases in their property tax bills.

“Roll it back,” said Craig Harfoot. “And people won’t be squeezed, and they’ll be able to stay in their home longer.”

Others criticized the county’s proposed stormwater fee, which was put on hold this month, terming it the “rain tax.” Attendees also spoke out about the November referendum on a 30-year, 1% sales tax to fund public transit.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how distressing it is … and how you wanna flip this county around … I just hope you reconsider,” said Ann Bober.

Cupid responds

Following the public comment period, Chairwoman Lisa Cupid defended the county and its budgeting at length.

She addressed several themes the public commenters brought up. The county uses consultants, Cupid said, because it’s cheaper than hiring more staff.

“The consultant fee is a finite fee,” Cupid said. “To hire an employee is an ongoing, recurring cost.”

The funds given to charities, Cupid said, were federal dollars received through the American Rescue Plan Act, and were distributed based on the results of citizen surveys. Those funds did not come from property taxes, she noted.

“We don’t use one-time funding for recurring expenses,” Cupid said.

As for the sheriff’s horses, he’s allowed to spend his budget as he sees fit, Cupid said.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, we don’t have the ability to rein in on spending of any of our constitutional officers,” she said.

Cupid noted the stormwater fee has been tabled for now, before saying the county cannot maintain infrastructure without finding a way to pay for it.

“Nothing I say minimizes the impact of your home values going up and your property taxes increasing. I get it. It’s very difficult for all of us, it’s very difficult for my family,” she said.

The budget as written must pass, Cupid said, to address vacancies in the police and fire departments and sustain raises for officers and firefighters.

She finished by saying that, even if it’s unpopular, passing the county’s proposal is the responsible thing to do.

“Even though getting elected … is a popularity contest, I think serving is a practical one. And one of the heart, to understand what are the needs of this county,” she said.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners meets to consider the budget and millage rate Tuesday, July 23 at 7 p.m. at its headquarters at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta.