Cobb County chairwoman says general fund millage will stay flat; board to vote Tuesday on FY2025 millage and proposed FY2026 budget

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid opened a July 17 virtual town-hall on the county budget and said, "Today is July 17, and we are currently in the throes of budget season." She and Chief Financial Officer Bill Volkmann reviewed the proposed fiscal-year plan and answered resident questions ahead of a scheduled public hearing and votes on Tuesday.

The chairwoman and Volkmann said the county is proposing to keep the Cobb County general fund millage flat while reducing the fire fund millage by 0.02 mills. "We are proposing general fund to remain flat," Volkmann said during the presentation. The proposal also zeroes out the 6 Flags Special Service District millage because that area now falls within the City of Mableton's boundaries.

Why it matters: The millage the board will vote on next week applies to fiscal year 2025 collections and provides a basis for planning fiscal 2026 spending. County officials emphasized the distinction between the millage vote (which applies to the current fiscal year when tax digests and collections are finalized) and adoption of next year's operating budget.

Budget highlights offered at the meeting show roughly $48 million in countywide increases across all funds, Volkmann said. The largest single fund increase called out was $11.4 million in the water operating fund (tied to water purchases, chemicals, parts, and utilities). Officials also flagged a roughly $12.3 million increase in compensation-related costs for existing positions, driven by filled vacancies and changes in pension and health premiums.

County leaders said the budget assumes the county's digest will grow roughly 3% this year and that the board is aiming to preserve a conservative approach to maintain flat millage. As part of compensation planning, the board is considering a 2% pay-scale adjustment and continuation of step-in-grade increases and merit pay for public safety; staff estimated the countywide cost of those items at about $8.6 million.

Officials said departments requested roughly 290 positions during the process; the proposed budget funds four net additional positions (two in fire and two in stormwater) and notes that 106 previously vacant positions have been filled through recruitment efforts.

The chairwoman reminded residents that the board does not set school district millage rates and that although the board must approve the school board's certified rate as the county taxing authority, the school board itself sets its millage. The meeting also referenced House Bill 581 as the statute that would have let the county extend the homestead exemption to the fire fund; the county opted not to apply the homestead exemption to the fire fund this year.

The county encouraged residents to review the proposed budget binders and the revenue and expenditure detail posted on the Cobb County finance page, and to attend the public hearing on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners meeting space at 100 Cherokee Street in downtown Marietta.

Ending: Officials said citizens can submit questions by email and that detailed budget documents, including revenue breakdowns and fund-by-fund explanations, are available on the county's finance web pages.