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Cobb commissioners open millage and budget hearings; county proposes flat general fund rate, trims fire contingency and faces questions over water fee transfers
Summary
At a July 8 public hearing, Cobb County officials presented the proposed 2025 millage rates and budget changes — including a proposal to keep the general fund millage flat at 8.46 mills and to reduce the fire fund millage by 0.02 mills — and heard public concerns about the county’s transfer of water-fee revenue to the general fund.
Cobb County opened the first of three public hearings on the 2025 millage rate and budget on July 8, 2025, where Deputy CFO Buddy Tessa presented proposed millage rates and budget highlights and the board took public comment on water-fee transfers and other budget items.
The county is proposing to keep the general fund millage flat at 8.46 mills, to reduce the Cobb County Fire Fund millage by 0.02 mills (about $1 million), and to keep the Cumberland Special Service District millage flat at 2.45 mills. The six-flags special service district will no longer be assessed because of the creation of Mableton. The county reported a net digest increase of 3.39 percent for 2025, down from prior years’ stronger growth.
Why it matters: the millage and budget determine property tax bills and how departments are funded. At the hearing, residents raised concerns about the county’s practice of transferring water-fee revenue to other funds, and commissioners and finance staff described efforts to slow growth in some funds while protecting service levels.
Buddy Tessa, deputy chief financial officer, walked the board and…
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