Cobb County holds first public hearings on proposed 2026 millage, budget; fire millage trimmed slightly

Cobb County finance officials on Tuesday opened a series of public hearings on proposed millage rates and the county’s draft 2026 budget, detailing a recommended general fund rate that would remain flat at 8.46 mills and a proposed 0.02‑mill decrease for the fire district, roughly $1 million in revenue.

The first public hearing covered the millage schedule and digest trends; county staff also presented a separate public hearing on the proposed budget that shows a $48 million net increase driven largely by water operations, personnel costs, and health‑care/claims funds.

Why it matters: the hearings begin the formal public comment period that must precede any millage adoption. Changes in the millage and the county’s budget affect property tax bills, the level of funding available for the fire district and other services, and how utility fees are used for infrastructure versus transfers to the general fund.

Deputy Chief Financial Officer Buddy Tessa led the millage presentation and said the county would hold three hearings: the second on July 16 at 6:30 p.m. and the final public hearing and adoption on July 22 at 7 p.m. He described four separate millage components the county manages: the general fund (recommended flat at 8.46 mills), the fire district (proposed down by 0.02 mills), the Cumberland Special Service…