Commissioners to Vote on Tax Increase
Tuesday night is the third and last public hearing on a millage rate increase before commissioners vote on the issue.
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The Cobb County Board of Commissioners are holding the last of three public hearings on the proposed millage rate increase at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 100 Cherokee St. Marietta
Cobb commissioners are eying a possible deficit of nearly $33 million for fiscal 2012, which starts Oct. 1. Due to declining property values, the board faced a deficit in 2011 as well. All departments were asked to cut 10 percent across the board, and take furlough days.
During the first two hearings on the tax increase—both on July 19—speakers were closely divided on whether to raise the rate from a total of 9.6 mills to 11.21 mills for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
That change would add an average of $111.66 to a residents county tax bill for homes worth $190,000 to $210,000. People on both sides said Cobb's quality of life is at stake.
We'll be covering the hearing and vote live.
Most of the dozens of speakers at the second hearing took one of two directions:
- The county can't afford to cut any more services without ruining the quality of life here and driving people away.
- The county can't afford to raise taxes without ruining the quality of life here and driving people away.
Heavy in attendance were families involved in the Special Olympics program, who generally supported a millage rate increase to protect the programs that are vital to them.
On the other side, many speakers warned that in these tough economic times, even an increased expense of $10 a month could push people over the economic edge and cost them their homes.
It was a hearing packed with emotional moments, such as Special Olympian Candice Fitzgerald, who warned the commissioners that she'll be 18 and voting next year, and Cobb Taxpayers Association head Lance Lamberton, who talked about his humbling, near-minimum-wage circumstances and his inability to afford any tax increase.
Stephen Smith
11:18 pm on Monday, July 25, 2011
As much as I don't like it I am ok with a small tax increase to maintain our quality of life here. Bravo to our Republican commissioners for taking the political risk and doing the right thing. Why won't congress do the same thing?
Crystal Miron
11:13 am on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I agree with Stephen. The commissioners have already asked for significant budget cuts across the board, for the second or third year in a row now. Cobb has already spent around a decade operating on a trimmer budget than most counties this size and with market costs rising and revenue down, something has to give.
Personally I think $111 for someone with a $200,000 home is pretty reasonable, and at this point necessary. I am tired of seeing teachers have to buy their own copy paper to print off student worksheets for the last three months of the school year.
There is certainly a vocal anti-tax contingent out there, but I think in this case in particular they are being irresponsible and irrational in the face of the facts.
I don't know about you, but I like the quality of life and services here in Cobb County, and I think it's worth $100 a year to keep it maintain them. If I wanted to live in a third rate town with absurdly low taxes, I wouldn't be here.