Cobb County outlines proposed 2026 budget: 2% pay‑scale adjustment proposed, personnel and water costs drive increases

Cobb County staff presented a proposed 2026 budget that would increase the county’s operating budget by roughly $49.4 million, driven primarily by personnel updates, higher water costs and adjustments to claims and indirect cost allocations.

Budget staff described a starting shortfall of about $7,000,000 from earlier estimates and said they had narrowed that gap to a balanced proposed budget by combining revenue updates, finalized health‑care rates and expenditure adjustments. The general fund was shown increasing by about $18,300,000, primarily for personnel (an estimated $16,000,000) that staff attributed to roster updates, filled vacancies and benefit costs.

As part of the 2026 proposal, staff recommended a 2% across‑the‑board pay‑scale adjustment (a cost‑of‑living adjustment, or COLA) for all employees plus continuation of a merit program. Staff said the combined maximum increase would differ by employee category: non‑step (non‑step‑in‑grade) employees would have a proposed maximum of 5% (2% COLA plus up…