Cobb County FY26 proposal would add $48.4 million to operating budget; commissioners and residents debate priorities

Cobb County finance staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget during a second public hearing July 16, telling the Board of Commissioners the countywide operating budget increase is roughly $48.4 million and that the general fund would rise by $18.3 million to about $643 million.

The presentation identified the primary drivers of the countywide increase: an $11.4 million increase in the water fund for operations (purchases, chemicals, electricity and related costs), a $12.3 million increase tied to filling 106 vacancies that were on the books in the prior year, a $8.6 million countywide cost for a proposed 2% pay-scale adjustment/COLA and step-in-grade implementation, and a $5.9 million increase in the county claims fund for health, dental and related insurance claims. Finance staff also listed $2.3 million in "impact items" (contractual or mandated items that will increase next year's baseline) and a roughly $2.7 million net increase in capital and grant funds, driven by a $2.3 million multi-year capital-grant estimate.

Why it matters: The FY26 budget sets priorities for public safety, infrastructure and county services and provides the basis for the…