In a conclusive third public hearing, Cobb's Board of Commissioners decided to stick with the status quo on the property tax rate and endorsed a Fiscal Year 2026 budget marked by a small upturn. According to Cobb County Government news, the General Fund millage rate for 2025 will remain at 8.46 mills, a figure that has been constant since 2018.
Amid a real estate market finding its footing, the county's tax digest saw a modest ascension of just over three percent, a dip compared to last year's robust 8.5% spurt. This hike in the digest has led to an $18 million increase in revenue compared to the prior year. Chairwoman Lisa Cupid remarked in the session, "I do believe with all we've been considering since November of last year, we're doing the best we can with this budget under these circumstances," and warned of future financial demands, as was reported by Cobb County.
The county's Chief Financial Officer, Bill Volckmann, shared concerns with the board, noting that balancing this year’s budget was testing due to heightened operational expenses. Such costs encompass hikes in prices for essentials like water, energy, and gas, as well as escalating personnel costs linked to filling long-empty roles – central to public safety – alongside general wage increases and elevated claims for healthcare and workers’ compensation among county employees.
While departments advocated for 290 new jobs to meet demands of Cobb’s burgeoning population, just four positions made it into the FY26 budget—two in the Water System and two in the Fire Department, and none of these positions is funded by the General Fund. "I don’t perceive there is any county committed to doing more with less than Cobb County," Chairwoman Cupid said, recognizing the compensation challenges for employees. "These are real people here doing the work. In a post-pension environment, where people can pick up and go, we have to approach things differently. We can’t expect people to do more with less and expect the same level of service," as told to Cobb County.
Fiscally, not all belt-tightening measures involved personnel. The commissioners also reduced the Fire Fund millage rate, delivering about $1 million in taxpayer savings. Furthermore, the elimination of district contingency funds freed up another $1 million. Volckmann noted, in an earlier work session, that Cobb County is poised to retain its AAA bond rating for the 28th consecutive year, according to insights from two of the three New York-based financial rating agencies. A verdict from the third is awaited this summer, a familiar anticipation for the county known for its longstanding top-tier financial status.
