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Cobb County proposes $84.7M increase for FY2027 budget, adds positions and stormwater utility fund
Summary
Cobb County’s proposed FY2027 budget would increase countywide spending by roughly $84.7 million, add 59 full-time positions across funds, create an adopted stormwater utility fund, and reduce the water transfer from 4% to 3%, county CFO said July 21.
Cobb County finance officials presented a condensed FY2027 budget on July 21 that proposes approximately an $84.7 million increase across all county funds and about $29 million of that in the general fund.
Buddy Tazar, the county’s chief financial officer, said the proposed budget adds 59 full-time positions overall, with 27 positions in the fire fund and others distributed among the general, stormwater and water/sewer funds. “We’re proposing to add 59 full time positions,” he said.
Tazar said the single largest line-item increase is water and sewer capital, including the newly adopted stormwater utility fund; stormwater capital is listed at about $17.1 million because the stormwater utility fund was not adopted in FY26 and now appears in FY27. He also explained claims-fund accounting that can make the total look larger because some employee health and claims expenses are counted both in operating funds and in the claims fund.
Other highlights in the presentation: a proposed 2% pay-scale adjustment (with a 3% merit pool), a proposed 4% increase in the stipend for Medicare-eligible retirees, a $6.2 million increase in the fire fund (personnel and capital), and a reduction of the water transfer from 4% to 3% to move toward eliminating the transfer.
Tazar also noted contractual obligations such as the Stadium Capital Maintenance Fund, which requires roughly $1.5 million per year from the county matched by the Atlanta Braves to fund long-term stadium repairs and replacements.
Why it matters: The proposed increases affect service levels, staffing, and capital work across Cobb County. The budget includes both recurring personnel costs and large capital projects (water/sewer and stormwater). The public will have one more hearing before the board considers adoption on July 28.
What’s next: The board will hold a final public hearing July 28 and then may adopt the budget; staff materials and the full presentation are available on the county finance website.
