Cobb County releases 2026 proposed budget with 2% COLA, no new general‑fund positions

Cobb County finance staff on Tuesday presented the county'wide proposed operating budget for fiscal 2026, showing a $49.4 million net increase driven largely by personnel costs, higher water purchases and other operating increases and a proposed 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for all employees.

The presentation, given to the Cobb County Board of Commissioners during a scheduled budget briefing, laid out how the county moved from an initial roughly $7 million general‑fund shortfall to the proposed balanced budget, described changes to individual funds including water and fire, and set a public hearing schedule that culminates with budget and millage adoption on July 22.

The proposal would keep the general fund roster unchanged for new positions, while formally funding four new positions (two in the fire fund and two in the water fund). County finance staff said they have filled 106 vacancies since the last snapshot and that 2% pay‑scale adjustments would apply to both step and non‑step employees.

"Our starting point for the general fund was roughly a $7,000,000 shortfall," a county budget staff member said during the presentation. The staff member later described the combined proposed increase across all funds as roughly $49,400,000 and said the general fund alone would increase by about $18,300,000, of which roughly $16,000,000 is personnel related (pension, health care and roster updates).

Why it matters: the county'wide proposal would raise recurring personnel costs through a combination of a 2% COLA and merit payments, fund vacancies at 100% when filled (the county budgets vacant positions at 50% while they remain open), and absorb higher utility and commodity costs in enterprise…