Cobb County residents will see their water and stormwater bills rise in the coming years, with the Cobb’s Board of Commissioners approving a series of increases that will see water rates climb by 2.5% and stormwater rates go up by 3.5% starting April 1, 2025. As the water trickles down from higher authorities, affecting rates on a local level, this decision comes after the Cobb County Marietta Water Authority upped its charges earlier this year, a cost that is now flowing down to residents.
According to a recent announcement on Cobb County's official website, the rate hikes will kick in year-over-year at an annual rate of 3.5% through 2029. Judy Jones, Cobb’s Water System Director, outlined the need for these increases, noting a rise in operating costs that spans the wholesale price of water and spiking construction costs for planned wastewater treatment projects over the next half-decade. "These increases are needed due to the rise in operating costs," Jones remarked in a statement throughout the board.
The financial strategy involves utilizing a multi-year rate setting, which offers stability in fiscal planning for both the county water system and the agencies that depend on its wholesale services. Chairwoman Lisa Cupid saw the move as a forward-thinking step. "This is one of the most proactive measures I’ve seen us take with respect to water," she said in the board's discussion. Indications are strong that even with the increase, Cobb County residents will still enjoy some of the metro area's lowest water rates, according to the official announcement.
Cobb County's water supply, sourced from the Cobb County Marietta Water Authority, influenced this rate adjustment. The authority itself had already raised rates, forcing the county to re-examine its financial reserves which, after having absorbed previous rate spikes, are now thinning. "In the past, we were able to absorb some of those rate increases by using our reserves," Jones explained to the board, as noted by the county's official website.
While no one likes higher bills, the gradual increase and five-year plan will give residents and agencies time to prepare for future costs. Chairwoman Cupid warned that delaying changes could result in bigger rate hikes later. Despite the adjustments, officials say Cobbs' rates will remain lower than most other major counties.
