Multiple storms have created significant challenges for the county Road Maintenance Division with a combination of issues: increased calls for storm cleanup (flooding / trees down), decreased days to handle regular mowing due to rain, increased growth in shoulder/median vegetation, and staffing problems. Since the start of May, the division has faced 117 flooded roadways, 438 calls for trees down, and 252 unique roadside trimming requests for vegetation issues. As a result, the county is behind on its regular mowing cycle. The new scheduling targets are:
Segment: Regular: Current: Medians 7-14 days 14-28 days Sidewalks 14-28 days 21-35 days Shoulders 45-60 days 60-75 days
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The Georgia Department of Education has made a major change to its English Language Arts requirements for young students—learning cursive handwriting.
The reintroduction of cursive in grades 3-5 will begin with the 2025-26 school year that begins in August, two years after the state board revised the standards.
In an era of digital media with students learning writing via computer keyboards and with content creation increasingly coming from artificial intelligence, old-school pencil-on-paper communication is making something of a comeback.
Georgia is one of several states mandating cursive instruction, but that’s still only half of the states. Many states dropped cursive following the adoption of Common Core standards in 2010 and haven’t resumed the practice.
The Georgia DOE calls handwriting “a basic tool for life, assists with the development of both fine motor skills and working memory skills; automatic handwriting skills facilitate active learning and efficient communications.”
The elements of a strong literacy foundation, according to the department, consist of phonological awareness, concepts of print, phonics, fluency and handwriting.
According to the new standards, the basics of cursive will be taught in third grade, and in fourth and fifth grades, “students continue cursive handwriting practice to build fluency and automaticity in handwriting to communicate effectively.”
The new standards (you can read them here) also show graphics of ideal handwriting forms that will be part of the instructional process, and offer recommendations on body posture, paper position, how to hold pencils and pens and support for left-handed writers.
The Georgia DOE guidelines, which include links to teaching resources, also include a quote from Dr. Rosemary Sassoon, a British educator and handwriting expert: “Handwriting is the imprint of the self on the page.”
The Cobb County School District also has a resource page with links to English Language Arts instruction at all grade levels.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
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On Saturday, the Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition (CIHC) hammered the first nails on the 25th Habitat house that will be a home for a Cobb County Public Servant.
The future homeowner, D, is a Project Utility Manager at the Cobb County Department of Transportation, helping to ensure the county’s residents enjoy quality infrastructure. Despite a stable career and doing overtime work he enjoys, D and his wife Dreika can’t find decent, affordable housing in the county he serves. Instead, they rent a small townhome just outside of Cobb, where they battle with crowding and substandard conditions.
The couple are raising a unique blended family with children ranging in age from 26 to one-year-old, with four living at home. Dreika keeps an immaculate home, but her efforts can’t hide the poor maintenance of the unit – significant water damage, leaky plumbing, and a basement that is always flooded. With safety concerns in the neighborhood, the family is cramped in their small space.
D & Dreika say they felt like they won a prize when they were selected to build through Habitat and are looking forward to watching their kids have a safe yard in which to play. For their family, homeownership is more than walls and a roof, it’s the promise of stability, safety, and cherished memories.
This year’s faith groups include Smyrna First United Methodist Church, Bethany United Methodist Church, East Cobb Islamic Center, Islamic Center of Marietta, Temple Kol Emeth, Temple Sinai, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Log Cabin Church, Covenant Church, Unity North of Atlanta Church, Macland Community Church, First Presbyterian Church of Marietta and Due West Methodist Church.
Corporate partners include Pinkerton & Laws Construction of Atlanta, Atlanta West Carpets, Moore Colson, Fortune-Johnson, Dwell Design Studio, Nissan, Burke-Moore and Sentinel Lake Neighborhood.
Henry Hene, Coalition Chair, says, “Staying together as an extremely diverse coalition for 25 years has not always been easy, but we have remained steadfastly committed to our mission of: ‘We Build to Coexist; We Coexist to Build’. We build together for a larger purpose than our individual organizations.”
Kyle Huhtanen, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta. “They are building more than just a house. Together, they are building hope, community and a better future for this family through a safe, affordable home.”
Future homeowner D flanked by Paul Wilson (left) and Henry Hene (R), Cobb Interfaith Coalition Co-Chairs
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On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the Cobb County Police Cadets represented the department and community with pride at the Georgia Cadet State Championship. Competing against 21 teams from across the state, the cadets delivered an outstanding performance and earned the title of Georgia State Cadet Champions for the 13th time in the last 14 years.
The team secured top honors in multiple categories:
1st Place – Felony Traffic Stops
3rd Place – Domestic Dispute
3rd Place – Officer Rescue
2nd Place (Individual) – Physical Fitness (Cadet Sgt. Morgan Ezra)
Their success reflects their dedication, discipline, and the exceptional mentorship of Detective Escarcega, Officer Rose, Officer Rico, and Officer Lindsey. Their guidance continues to shape the next generation of law enforcement leaders in Cobb County.
The Cobb Cadets will now advance to the National Cadet Competition in California, scheduled for July 12 through 19. The department and community will be cheering them on as they represent Georgia on the national stage.
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After projecting a $7 million budget deficit in March, Cobb finance officials presented a nearly-balanced fiscal year 2026 budget proposal Tuesday that holds the line on property tax rates and includes modest raises for county employees.
During a work session, Cobb Chief Financial Officer Bill Volckmann told the Cobb Board of Commissioners that the proposed spending package still needs a $1 million reduction to break even.
During an update in March, he outlined a variety of possible cuts to the $7 million figure, including a contingency fund of $1 million for commissioners to spend at their discretion on various projects in the county and their respective districts.
The budget, which will have hearings and adoption in July, holds the general fund property rate at 8.46 mills and the fire fund rate, which is at 2.99 mills.
The general fund millage rate has been the same since 2018, but many homeowners have seen their tax bills skyrocket due to rising assessments in recent years. Some citizens have asked that the millage rate be “rolled back” to hold the line at spending.
But commissioners have (along mostly partisan lines) ignored those pleas, citing staff openings and the need to boost employee recruitment and retention, especially in public safety agencies.
The general fund would generate $645 million in revenues, up from the present fiscal year 2025 total of $624 million. Fire fund projected revenues would be $161 million, up by $8 million.
Cobb tax digest growth is projected to be a little more than two percent in 2025, compared to higher increases in recent years.
Only four new positions would be created in county government, two lieutenant positions in the fire department, and two stormwater project management inspector positions in the water department, with the funding coming outside of the general fund.
In March, Volckmann told commissioners that county department heads had proposed nearly 300 new positions, with 113 from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office and more than 70 in the Cobb Police Department, in new spending requests totalling nearly $93 million.
Under the proposed budget, county employees would receive two-percent pay raises, and could get merit raises up to three percent. Public safety employees also would get the two-percent raises and step-and-grade raises for those who are eligible.
Volckmann said that while Cobb has filled 106 vacancies in public safety departments during the current fiscal year, several departments still have dozens of openings.
Police, fire and the Cobb Water Department all have more than 70 openings each, he said.
The budget proposal also would reduce the amount of water department revenues from five percent to four percent.
The Cobb government fiscal year 2026 starts on Oct. 1 and concludes on Sept. 30, 2026.
The graphics below were presented at the work session Tuesday; click the middle button to view the slideshow.
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According to police, she was shot and killed in her home on June 7 by a man who also lived there. He was identified as Sam Mills, 44, and police said after killing Saddler, he turned the gun on himself. Police have not said how, or if, they were related.
Two of her three children named in the obituary have a last name of Mills.
Saddler bought a home in the Ramblewood subdivision near Sprayberry High School in 2021, and was a board member of the McCleskey Family-East Cobb YMCA, according to the obituary.
She was an attorney who worked for the Morgan and Morgan and John Foy personal injury law firms before starting her own law practice, the Brick Law Firm, in the Cumberland area in 2024.
Saddler grew up in Boston and graduated from the University of Massachusetts, and earned a law degree from the University of Florida.
“In her personal time, she enjoyed running 5Ks, exploring art exhibits, attending comedy shows, and listening to music of all genres, from classical and pop to Haitian kompa,” her obituary states. “Her favorite moments were spent outdoors with her three children, biking, hiking, skating, and traveling together as a family.”
The obituary states that a visitation will precede the memorial service on July 5, and that Saddler will be entombed at Kennesaw Memorial Park.
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Another anti-Trump rally is set for the Roswell and Johnson Ferry intersection Thursday. ECN file photo.
Two weeks after hundreds of people turned out at a busy East Cobb intersection to protest the policies of President Donald Trump, another rally has been scheduled for the same place this week.
A group called the Not Above the Law Coalition will stage the rally at Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads for Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. to protest the Trump administration’s immigration deportations.
The rally is entitled “Disappeared in America” and is one of several scheduled across the country on Thursday, which the group has designated as a “national day of action.”
The rally is organized similarly to the “No Kings” rallies that took place on June 14, including East Cobb.
According to the invitation for Thursday’s rally, “in America, the government doesn’t get to grab people off the streets, skip the courtroom, and send them straight to a foreign prison.
“Disappeared in America is a national day of action to stand up for the rule of law and confront the Trump administration’s illegal abductions, detentions, and deportations of people like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Rui Marras, and Juan Maldonado Zuniga.”
The group says the Trump administration is failing to provide due process, and that the president “has said he wants to abduct and deport U.S. citizens. If this he isn’t stopped now, no one is safe.”
An East Cobb couple we have been reporting on was detained at a Georgia ICE facility in April after being questioned at their home. The wife has since been released but her husband has been transferred to a detention facility in Mississippi as their son works to free him.
Not Above the Law also is calling for sheriffs to refuse to cooperate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
Not Above the Law doesn’t appear to have a website, but other sources indicate it was formed in 2017 after the start of Trump’s first term. The coalition’s co-chairs come from Public Citizen and Stand Up America, both left-of-center advocacy groups.
Earlier this year, the coalition organized protests against the electric-car company Tesla, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk.
Other members of Not Above the Law include a variety of other left-of-center organizations, according to Influence Watch.
Influence Watch is part of the Capital Research Center, which is a right-leaning think tank investigating non-profits involved in political advocacy.
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A 12-year-old boy who was hit by a vehicle as he crossed Jamerson Road Monday afternoon suffered serious injuries, Cobb Police said.
In a release, Officer Aaron Wilson said the boy, who was not identified, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.
According a fundraising appeal for his medical expenses, the boy was later air-lifted to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, where he is in intensive care with multiple injuries to his legs and internal organs.
Wilson said that the boy was crossing Jamerson Road from a sidewalk east of Turtle Rock Drive around 3:40 Monday afternoon when he was struck by a white 2023 Ford Transit van heading eastbound on Jamerson and driven by Lawrence Jackson, 28, of Ellenwood.
The area is between Davis Elementary School and Mountain View Church, and near the Jamerson-Trickum Road intersection.
Police said the boy landed on a sidewalk and a grass embankment after being hit, and suffered unspecified “serious injuries.”
Jackson was not injured, according to police, who said they’re continuing to investigate. Anyone with information should contact the Cobb County Police Department STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.
A reader sent us word that there’s a GoFundMe page set up for the boy’s medical expenses, and that he will be needing additional surgeries.
The information there says the boy, who’s a rising 7th grader at Mabry Middle School and is involved with the Lassiter Junior football program, was using the crosswalk at Davis ES when he was hit.
The page says the boy’s injuries include a fractured femur and tibia in one leg and a fractured knee in the other, bruised lungs, a torn aorta and liver lacerations.
“During this time, his mom will be out of work and with him,” the fundraising message said. “If you see fit, please consider helping this family during this time of need.”
Another reader has started an online petition to improve the crosswalks at Davis ES.
Courtney Chiang DiStefano is asking in the petition that a solar flashing light alert be added, along with crosswalk detectors, a chirping alert for pedestrians and to build another crosswalk to cover both sides of the school.
She said she and her family uses the crosswalk often to visit grandparents and to go to classes as Davis, but “the lack of a protected crosswalk with sufficient signage and protection puts our children and neighbors at significant risk.”
DiStefano said that the posted speed limit in that portion of Jamerson Road is 45 mph, but “it is not uncommon for vehicles to speed down this road at over 65 mph. With children crossing throughout the year—whether it be for school, visiting family, or recreational activities—this lack of safety measures presents a daily hazard.”
She said that the petition has been sent to Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb.
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Dr. Ananthi Jebasingh and Grace Resurrection Church Senior Pastor Rev. James Williams.
Submitted information and photos:
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church hosted its first-ever Missions Dinner on June 19, 2025, featuring a moving presentation by Dr. Ananthi Jebasingh, founder of the Good Samaritan School in Delhi, India. The event drew members of the congregation together for an evening of authentic fellowship, inspiration, and global connection.
Dr. Jebasingh, a friend of Senior Pastor Rev. James Williams, shared the extraordinary story of how a few hungry children knocking on her door ignited a movement. From those humble beginnings, the Good Samaritan School has grown into a thriving Christian school system with four campuses serving some of Delhi’s most underserved communities. Remarkably, the school began by meeting in a bathroom for its first ten years.
Today, it stands as a beacon of hope, education, and faith for hundreds of students in need.
Guests were treated to an evening that was as meaningful as it was beautiful, with traditional Indian cuisine, elegant silk centerpieces, and the presence of two visiting school principals who shared their perspectives on the impact of the mission. Dr. Jebasingh’s humility and courage left a lasting impression on all who attended.
“This is what the Church is called to be,” said Rev. Williams. “A people rooted in love, reaching across the world with open hands and open hearts.”
Grace Resurrection (website) invites the community to follow along on social media for future mission-focused events and opportunities to get involved.
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Yes, it’s already a hot one, weatherwise, but as I checked our ongoing fundraising drive for June, I was blown away by all the support you’ve shown for East Cobb News!
I’ll update the final totals at the end of the month, which is drawing near, and I thank all of you who have contributed.
After I logged off a while ago, I got an envelope delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to my office with a contribution check from a reader:
“Keep up the good work.”
I wish I could convey how much that means to me, but words do fail me. I really appreciate how East Cobb News readers value what they get at this website every day, because you’re the reason we do why we do.
We are asking readers who haven’t yet contributed to consider doing so, on a monthly recurring basis. We’re suggesting $6 a month, which is about a couple of cups of drive-through coffee.
We’ve set a goal of having 250 monthly donors, and while we’re a while away from that, your support is getting us closer.
In a couple of weeks, East Cobb News will mark its 8th anniversary, and I’m excited about what the future will bring as we continue to give you the local news you love.
I’ll keep this message short, because it’s hot and we’re all busy enjoying the summer, but keep this in mind:
When you support East Cobb News, you ensure stories don’t slip through the cracks. Every story we tell matters —whether it’s about local events, school board and county commission decisions, interesting people, or how people are volunteering and serving others.
What makes East Cobb News so distinctive? Simply put, there’s no place else to find news and information that highlights our community and keeps it strong.
Your gift of $6, $12, or even $25 a month helps us to tell countless stories—keeping you informed about what’s happening in East Cobb. And your gift delivers the news to readers—via email, social media, and of course, at eastcobbnews.com.
The Press Patron platform we use is safe and secure, and you can manage your account how you like. Go to eastcobbnews.presspatron.com to contribute today!
If you’d like to send us a contribution us like our reader above did, here’s our snail-mail address:
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Let us know what you think about all of this: e-mail me: wendy@eastcobbnews.com. I’m interested in hearing from you.
And thanks for your support!
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U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, whose 11th Congressional District includes East Cobb, said Saturday that “America and the rest of the world are much safer” after U.S. military strikes over the weekend against nuclear facilities in Iran.
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk
Loudermilk, a Republican from Cassville, typified the mostly partisan responses that came from members of Congress after President Donald Trump ordered U.S. Air Force B-2 “stealth” bombers to attack enrichment sites in Fordow and Natanz, where the Iranian regime has been enriching uranium for use in developing nuclear weapons.
Tomahawk missiles were fired at a third site in Isfahan, where a uranium conversion facility is located, from U.S. military vessels in the Persian Gulf.
“Putting America first means prioritizing the safety and security of the United States; and Iran has been a serious threat to the U.S. and our ally, Israel, for decades,” said Loudermilk, a long-time Trump ally, in a statement on social media Saturday night.
“President Trump exercised incredible restraint while seeking diplomatic solutions with Iran these past few months; unfortunately, Iran was unwilling to cooperate.”
According to Trump during brief remarks at the White House Saturday night, he said operations completely “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, but the extent of the damage remains unclear.
Trump responded after a conflict between Israel and Iran broke out, and after threatening to strike if the Iranians didn’t agree to negotiate.
Trump launched the strikes in coordination with the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Forces, which struck Iranian military targets before the U.S. assault.
More than 100 planes from both nations took part in the attacks, which took place early in the morning Sunday Iranian time.
All seven U.S. B-2 bombers returned safely to their home base at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Trump has long argued that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, but many Democrats in Congress decried the attacks.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia was one of them. He said Trump “has now entered another Middle East conflict” and said the president should have first sought Congressional approval.
“This is war,” Warnock said in his statement. “And this is not the first time the American people have not been told that it will end quickly.”
On Sunday. U.S. Jon Ossoff, also a Democrat and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued more measured comments.
He issued a brief statement saying only that “I pray for the safety of U.S. military service members deployed around the world and express my admiration for their courage and professionalism.
“Congress must be promptly and fully briefed on tonight’s operation and consulted on the Administration’s strategy.”
Ossoff, who is Georgia’s first Jewish senator, said on Friday that he was mindful of Iranian missile attacks on civilian targets in Israel and that he had been briefed on the developments.
“The Iranian government’s support for terrorist proxies and enrichment of uranium have destabilized the region. The United States has repeatedly made clear in recent months—and the President stated again this week—that diplomatic solutions remain available.”
The only Republican member of the Georgia delegation critical of the strikes was U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of the 14th District in Northwest Georgia.
She said in a social media statement that “there would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first.
“This is not our fight.”
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
Israel has contended that its attacks in Iran in recent weeks were only against military targets.
Israel and the U.S. were bracing for retaliatory measures promised by the Iranian regime. The Iranian Parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil exports pass through.
Greene, whose district includes some of North Cobb, amplified her opposition on Monday, as the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar closed its airspace following Iranian strikes at a U.S. military installation there.
At the same time, Israeli forces struck government targets in Iran.
“It feels like a complete bait and switch to please the neocons, warmongers, military industrial complex contracts, and neocon TV personalities that MAGA hates and who were NEVER TRUMPERS!” Greene said of Trump’s decision.
Conservative Fox News commentator Mark Levin, an Israel supporter, called her a “shameless nitwit” in response.
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Cobb Police said that a man has been shot and killed and a woman has been hospitalized after being shot during an argument at an apartment complex Sunday night near the Kennesaw State University campus.
In a release Monday morning, Cobb Police Officer Aaron Wilson said Jalen Parker, 24, of Kennesaw, was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital after being shot several times.
Wilson said Antoinette Hammonds, 40, also of Kennesaw, was taken to Kennestone, and is in stable condition.
Anthony Lockett, 22, of Kennesaw, was charged and arrested for murder and aggravated assault, police said.
According to his booking report, Lockett is being held at the Cobb Adult Detention Center without bond and his home address is listed as at an apartment complex on Hidden Forest Drive in Northeast Cobb.
Wilson said that police were called to the scene of Bixby Kennesaw (3021 George Busbee Parkway) around 8:15 p.m. Sunday and found a woman shot in the parking lot. She was later identified as Hammonds, the suspect’s mother, police said.
The complex is located across the street from Fifth Third Stadium and close to Town Center Mall, and primarily serves as off-campus housing.
Inside an apartment, according to Wilson, officers found a man shot multiple times, and he was later identified as Parker.
Police said there was an argument inside the apartment, but they didn’t say what it was about.
Police said Lockett was present during the argument and left the scene, then “returned with family members, confronted people inside with a gun, and then fired multiple shots inside the apartment,” striking Parker.
Someone else in the apartment returned fire, according to police, and Hammonds was shot in the exchange. Police said she was taken to the parking lot where first responders found her and took her to Kennestone.
Wilson said the investigation is continuing and anyone with information should contact the Cobb County Police Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945 or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
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Picnickers stay cool in the shade at East Cobb Park Sunday afternoon. ECN photo.
The first official week of summer will be the hottest of the year in the East Cobb area.
High temperatures in the high 90s are expected through at least Wednesday, and possibly longer, as what weather forecasters are calling a “heat dome” is making its way through the eastern half of the country.
Extreme heat warnings are being forecast in parts of the Midwest and the Northeast, with a heat advisory being issued across much of the Deep South.
Temperatures surpassed 100 degrees in the Dakotas, and the Great Plains region where the most severe heat conditions are being forecast.
In our area, highs through Wednesday are expected to range between 95-98, with a high on Thursday expected around 94. Highs will fall into the high 80s by the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.
Lows will be in the low 70s, but humid conditions both day and night will make the weather feel hotter, and could pose dangers to people staying outside for long periods.
Heat index values could surpass in the early part of this week in metro Atlanta, with the most serious danger in the afternoons.
The MUST Ministries cooling shelter (1297 Bells Ferry Road) will be open daily through Friday from noon-6:30 p.m., and individuals will receive lunch and dinner.
Later in the week could also bring some rain.
There’s a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, rising to 50 percent Friday afternoon and up to 70 percent on Saturday and Sunday.
Highs will be in the high 80s and the heat index is expected to be in the 90s, as humid conditions will continue.
Next week will start with highs dropping to the low 80s, but heat advisories are likely to remain in effect as the summer continues.
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The proposed Cobb government fiscal year 2026 budget will be formally proposed Tuesday.
Cobb Chief Financial Officer Bill Volckmann
The $1.4 billion proposed spending package will be outlined to the Cobb Board of Commissioners at a work session that begins at 1:30 p.m. in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta.
According to a budget overview (you can read it here) as of late March, there’s a projected general fund budget of $7 million.
That shortfall includes $2 million “in budget recommendations but does not account for new positions or additional requests beyond those recommendations. This projection is subject to change as more financial data becomes finalized.”
That’s the latest update the county has provided at on its budget page. You can find more budget details at this link.
The budget office laid out several recommendations in the overview to balance the general fund budget:
Keep the rate of Cobb water department revenues transferred to the general fund at the present five percent ($2.3 million) instead of reducing it to four percent;
Shift 0.o5 mills from the Cobb Fire Fund—which pays for fire and emergency services—to the general fund ($2.2 million);
Cut $1 million in police and sheriff’s overtime budgets;
Cut the $1 million budgeted in a contingency fund for each of the five commissioners, who are allotted $200,000 each to spend as they see fit;
Increase the general fund millage rate.
In March, Cobb Chief Financial Officer Bill Volckmann briefed commissioners on an additional $92.7 million in spending requests from county department heads above the current FY 2025 budget of $1.27 billion. Of that, roughly half, or $624.8 million, comes from the general fund.
A total of $74.3 million in requested new spending would come from the general fund, much of that for additional positions in the Cobb Sheriff’s Office and Cobb Police Department—a total of 290 new public safety positions in all.
The budget process—the final package must be passed by the end of July—also comes as the Cobb tax digest is projected to grow by only 2 percent in 2025, which is down from 8.52 percent last year.
For the last two years, commissioners have adopted budgets of $1.2 billion and $1.27 billion, largely due to significant increases in the county tax digest.
But commissioners have come under fire from citizens both years for not “rolling back” the property tax rate to offset the additional revenues (the general fund millage rate has stood at 8.46 mills).
They will be under considerable pressure to hold the line on the tax burden while adjusting to a different fiscal environment, and with additional spending requests and rising costs for employee salaries and benefits.
At the March work session, Commissioner Keli Gambrill said that “this is quite a big budget request.”
The FY 2026 budget is the second of a two-year “biennial” budget process. The overview details the differences between adopted FY 2025 spending and what is being projected, or $6.9 million less. That figure includes the tax digest projection and the five-percent water transfer rate.
The overview states that since the FY budget adoption last summer, there has been a $16 million increase in personnel costs, and $11 million in budgeted capital expenses has been been cut.
Another $1.56 million in funds earmarked as contingency for the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Truist Park also has been removed.
The updated general fund budget (as of March 25) shows $644 million in expenses, and $637 million in projected revenues, with the increases also being attributed to rising costs for employee benefits plans and pension funds.
Increases in public safety staffing has been one of the top priorities of the current biennial budget.
The finance office noted in its proposed recommendation to shift some of the fire fund millage rate to the general fund that the fire fund currently has a $10 million surplus. A total of 26 fire positions have been filled in the past year, 76 vacancies remain.
The Sheriff’s Office is seeking 113 new positions and the Police Department is asking for 17 new full-time positions.
The water transfers have been the process of being reduced in recent years from a high of 10 percent by one percent a year.
Public hearings on the budget proposal and county millage rates will take place on July 8, 15 and 22, with adoption scheduled for the latter date.
Also at Tuesday’s work session, commissioners will be given an annual update on finances associated with Truist Park and The Battery.
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Fireworks explode above the Marietta Square on July 4, 2024 (City of Marietta Flickr stream photo).
The City of Marietta will continue its longstanding Independence Day traditions in 2025.
The Let Freedom Ring Parade kicks off the festivities on Friday, July 4, starting at 10 a.m. The parade route begins at Roswell Street Baptist Church and continues to the Marietta Square for the 4th in the celebration, and fireworks.
Here’s the schedule, per the city website:
10:00am thru 9:00pm Festival – Arts & Crafts, Kid’s Zone, Festival Food, Free Concerts
12:00pm Concert Featuring Scott Thompson
2:00pm Bell Ringing Ceremony
2:30pm Atlanta Concert Band
7:00pm Cat Carter
8:00pm to 9:30pm Featuring: Chuck Martin and the Line Up
The fireworks will take place after dark.
There will be a number of street closures in effect for most of the day (map here), and some will be closed late Thursday, July 4.
The city also has a map detailing public parking availability at this link.
The Marietta History Center will be holding a fundraising event, “July 4th Fireworks on the Bricks,” with views of the fireworks.
Some reserved tables will be set up in front of the Kennesaw House, along the railroad tracks, with packages ranging from $200 to $300 for a table of four.
Tables and parking can be purchased through the Marietta History Center’s online store at www.MariettaHistory.org. Quantities are limited, so early reservations are encouraged.
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A couple weeks ago Cobb commissioners accepted a $207,000 donation from East Side baseball to complete the work of replacing grass fields with synthetic turf that’s been years in the making.
That work was just one part of continued improvements at the Cobb PARKS facility on Robinson Road.
On Tuesday, commissioners will consider a request for a new accessible sidewalk from the main parking lot to the Fullers Park tennis courts.
That project falls under the Americans With Disabilities Act, will cost $122,165 in 2022 Cobb PARKS SPLOST funding, according to an agenda item.
The agenda item states that county staff is recommending the contract be awarded to W.E. Contracting Company, Inc.
Fullers Park has four tennis courts located in the front of the park, adjacent to the main parking area.
Also on Tuesday, commissioners will be asked by the Cobb Water System to spend $390,625 for stream stabilization work along Sope Creek near its mouth on the Chattahoochee River.
That’s the amount of the low bidder, CGS, LLC, to repair a portion of an eroded sewer pipe on River Heights Crossing, near Columns Drive.
According to an agenda item, the work will replace “160 linear feet of a reinforced concrete retaining wall along the streambank and covering the sewer line with fill material.”
In other items on the agenda, Cobb DOT has revised the cost of a contract to begin engineering design work for sidewalks along Pete Shaw Road in Northeast Cobb.
An agenda item states that an additional $13,000 is being requested due to modifications that include adding a wall design and drainage revisions, bringing the contract amount to $400,000.
The 0.8-mile sidewalk between Sandy Plains Road and Hazlehurst Drive was to have been completed by the end of 2025, but the agenda items states that timetable has been pushed back to March 2027.
The agenda item states that the project, to be funded from the 2022 SPLOST, has a budget of $1.8 million, with $416,614 already spent.
Another agenda item related to that project is asking for right-of-way condemnation for 0.8 acres along Pete Shaw Road.
Another right-of-way condemnation is being sought at the southeast corner of Canton Road and Piedmont Road, the location of a Wells Fargo Bank, as Cobb DOT continues preparing for traffic work along the Canton Road corridor.
The $2.4 million project also is funded from the 2022 SPLOST. The work stipulated for that intersection includes the addition of a right turn lane from Canton Road eastbound onto Piedmont Road and the addition of sidewalk along Canton Road.
The agenda items state that the condemnations would take place only if continuing negotiations with property owners break down.
The Board of Commissioners meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.
You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The Honorable Judge Sonja N. Brown of the Cobb County Superior Court was presented with the Distinguished Judicial Award by Young Lawyers Division (YLD) President Kenneth Mitchell, Jr. during the 2025 State Bar of Georgia Annual Meeting held on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The award honors members of the judiciary who actively support and encourage the professional growth of young lawyers while also demonstrating steadfast support of the YLD President’s leadership throughout their term. Judge Brown’s exemplary mentorship, service-minded leadership, and consistent engagement with the legal and broader community made her a natural choice for this prestigious recognition.
“I love serving Cobb County both on and off the bench,” said Judge Brown. “I am honored to be recognized by the YLD, and I remain committed to mentoring young lawyers and encouraging meaningful community service throughout our profession.”
Judge Brown began serving on the Cobb County Superior Court bench on January 1, 2023, following her tenure as a full-time Magistrate Court Judge in Cobb County. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tommy Nobis Center, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities through job training and employment services.
Before joining the bench, Judge Brown built an extensive legal career serving in leadership roles within the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office and Solicitor-General’s Office, as well as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. She also held corporate legal roles at Convergent Media Systems Corporation, where she advanced from Paralegal to Staff Counsel.
Judge Brown holds a Juris Doctor from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, a Master of Arts in Christian Practice from Duke Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University. Of all her roles, she proudly considers being an aunt to her two nieces and four nephews among her most cherished.
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The Georgia Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce its 2025-26 season in celebration of the organization’s 75th season. Led by Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville, the multifaceted arts organization continues to set itself apart by offering an array of innovative orchestral, choral, jazz, family, and sensory-friendly programming.
“At its heart, the GSO’s 75th season is a celebration of the transformative power of live music. Over the decades, this orchestra has grown not just in size but in spirit. We’re continually pushing artistic boundaries while staying rooted in community. It’s a privilege to lead these musicians in a season that honors our past and embraces the bold possibilities ahead,” said Timothy Verville, GSO Music Director and Conductor.
Classics Series
The Symphony’s 75th season begins on Saturday, October 25, with Drama and Destiny: Opera Meets Broadway, a sweeping musical journey through timeless stories of love, power, and passion. Internationally acclaimed soprano Indra Thomas joins the GSO and GSO Chorus for a powerful program featuring iconic selections from Verdi’s Aida, Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, and Puccini’s Tosca and Gianni Schicchi. The evening also includes beloved Broadway favorites from Wicked and West Side Story, and a medley tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Symphonic sound and captivating jazz collide in Big Band and Beyond on February 7 as the Symphony joins forces with GSO Jazz! This electrifying concert will include selections from Charlie Parker with Strings, the Latin jazz hit La Suerte de los Tontos, the bossa nova classic Desafinado, and medleys celebrating Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Symphony meets swing in a high-energy tribute to jazz past and present in this concert featuring GSO Jazz! director Sam Skelton on saxophone.
This memorable season concludes with GSO 75: A Musical Celebration on May 23. This milestone performance will be a community-wide celebration of legacy and future. Over 200 performers will take the stage at Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center, including the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Uzee Brown Society of Choraliers, the Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus, the Georgia Spiritual Ensemble, and the extraordinary young musicians of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO). Together, they will perform selections from Holst’s The Planets and the transcendent final movements of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony in a breathtaking display of musical unity and excellence.
Holiday Pops
The beloved holiday tradition Holiday Pops returns on December 6 and 7. Audiences of all ages are invited to this festive celebration featuring new and classic holiday hits, a lively sing-along, and photo opportunities with Santa. Holiday Pops is the perfect way to share the season with friends, family, and the community.
GSO Jazz!
Mas Que Nada: The Music of Sergio Mendes on February 28 will have audiences feeling the rhythms of Brazil with an irresistible blend of bossa nova, samba, and jazz of Sergio Mendes in this lively concert. This unforgettable performance celebrates the iconic Brazilian pianist and composer whose signature blend of bossa nova, samba, and jazz has captivated audiences around the world.
GSO Chorus
The GSO Chorus, led by director Bryan Black, will perform Anniversary Songbook on March 22. This uplifting program honors the ensemble’s rich legacy while embracing new musical voices.
Family and Sensory-Friendly Concert Series
In keeping with its commitment to bringing live music to members of the region’s underserved communities, the GSO will offer sensory-friendly concerts on October 11 and March 28. The series offers two separate performances, one designed specifically for individuals with sensory sensitivities and one designed to be an introductory orchestra experience for young children. Both concerts offer a pre-concert instrument “petting zoo” and a quiet room.
Leading the Next Generation of Musicians
The GSO is also the parent organization of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO), one of the top 10 largest youth orchestra programs in the nation. GYSO serves elementary through high school students across the metro Atlanta region, providing an inclusive and enriching musical environment for all skill levels. The 2025-26 season marks the GYSO’s 20th anniversary. Performance details will be announced soon and will be available at GYSO.org.
Additional Programming
In addition to an exciting line-up of concerts, the GSO’s Diamond Anniversary season will include special events, exclusive opportunities, community celebrations, and more. Stay tuned for details! For the latest updates, sign up for GSO’s bi-monthly e-newsletter and follow us on social media @georgiasymphony.
“This 75th season means so much to all of us. We’re celebrating a legacy built by passionate musicians and visionary leaders. This milestone is both a tribute and an invitation to honor where we’ve been and to imagine what’s next and to invite our community to join us on that journey,” said Suzanne Tucker, GSO Executive Director.
From iconic symphonic masterpieces to joyful holiday traditions and innovative community programs, the GSO’s Diamond Season promises something extraordinary for everyone.
Season subscriptions are now on sale, and they’re the best way to experience the full spectrum of programming created for the Diamond Anniversary, from tributes to the organization’s past to bold steps toward its future. Individual concert tickets go on sale August 4.
Secure your seats now for this landmark season and be part of the GSO’s next legendary chapter. Visit GeorgiaSymphony.org for more information.
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