East Cobb Government

Cobb school board, commission announce FY ’26 budget process

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Cobb school board, commmission announce FY '26 budget dates
The Cobb Board of Education will hear a tentative fiscal year 2025 budget proposal Thursday.

Spring and summer in Cobb County is also budget season for Cobb government and the Cobb County School District.

The Cobb Board of Education will be presented with the district’s fiscal year 2026 tentative budget on Thursday, and will hold a public budget forum Thursday evening.

The budget presentation takes place at a work session that starts at 1:30 p.m. The budget public forum starts at 6:30 p.m., and the board’s monthly voting meeting starts at 7 p.m.

All meetings Thursday take place in the board room of the CCSD Central Office, at 514 Glover St. in Marietta. An executive session will follow the work session.

The final budget hearing is scheduled for May 15, also at 6:30 p.m., shortly before the board is scheduled to adopt the budget.

In July, the school board adopts a property tax millage rate after the final Cobb tax digest is issued.

The Cobb school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30 of each year.

The current district FY 2025 budget of $1.8 billion was adopted last year that held the property tax rate at 18.7 mills and included broad employee raises.

(Here’s the full district budget calendar.)

Watching the Funds-Cobb, a citizens financial watchdog group, has been critical of the district’s budget process, saying it doesn’t provide the public with adequate time to examine or speak to the budget.

The budget hearings take place the day the budget is presented, and the day it is to be adopted. The group has suggested having hearings somewhere in between those dates.

“Yes, the district holds the legally required public hearings—but they defy the spirit of the law,” the group posted on its Facebook page in late March. “It’s all for show.”

For most homeowners, school taxes comprise around two-thirds of their property tax bills. Seniors 62 and older can claim a general exemption from school taxes.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners will be presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a work session on June 24.

Public hearings on the budget and millage rate will take place on July 8 at 9 a.m., July 16 at 6:30 p.m. and July 22 at 7 p.m., with adoption scheduled for the latter date.

Last month commissioners were presented with a wish list by county department heads that would add 290 employees (much of it for public safety agencies) and $92.7 million to a budget that would add up to $1.3 billion.

Last July commissioners also held the property tax rate but spending went up $63.7 million, despite pleas from residents to roll back the millage.

Cobb government’s budget details can be found here.

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Cobb government offices, libraries closed for Good Friday

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Submitted information:

Cobb County Government offices will be closed Friday, April 18. The Good Friday holiday allows our staff members additional time to spend with their friends, family and loved ones for the holiday weekend. Cobb Libraries will also be closed Sunday, April 20, for Easter. Information and many services remain available 24 hours a day online at cobbcounty.org.

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Georgia tax filing date extended to May 1 by state, IRS

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Tuesday is April 15, or Tax Day for most individuals and businesses.Georgia tax filing date extended to May 1 by state and IRS

But in Georgia, there’s been an extension granted to file certain state and federal income tax returns.

The Georgia Department of Revenue granted the extension in the wake of Hurricane Helene last fall.

In October, the state set a new deadline of Thursday, May 1, following an emergency declaration in all 159 counties of Georgia by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The highlights of the extension, as GDOR announced it at the time:

The May 1, 2025, extension date applies to individuals and businesses that have a 2024 income tax return normally due during March or April 2025; calendar year corporations whose 2023 extensions run out on October 15, 2024; quarterly estimated income tax payments due on January 15 and April 15, 2025; and quarterly payroll tax returns normally due on October 31, 2024, January 31, 2025, and April 30, 2025. 

Affected taxpayers who had a valid extension until October 15, 2024, to file their 2023 income tax return will now have until May 1, 2025, to file their return. Because income tax payments related to these 2023 returns were due on April 15, 2024, however, those payments are not eligible for this relief.

The extended deadlines for filing and payments do not apply to information returns in the W-2 and 1099 series; or to Forms 1042-S; or to employment and excise tax deposits. However, penalties on deposits due on or after Sept. 24, 2024, and before October 9, 2024, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by October 9, 2024. It also does not apply to International Fuel Tax Agreement interest or scheduled payments which are the result of a taxpayer entering into an Installment Payment Agreement since those liabilities were due prior to the disaster relief. 

The Department is also extending limited relief for sales and use tax, excise tax, and other miscellaneous taxes. The relief includes quarterly and monthly returns and payments originally due in the month of October 2024 (e.g., September 2024 sales and use tax returns due October 21, 2024). These returns and payments are now due on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. 

More details here.

Likewise, the Internal Revenue Service granted an extension to May 1 in Georgia for certain individual and business tax returns.

All returns must be received or postmarked by May 1 to be considered filed in time to avoid late penalties.

Georgia is one of nine states with tax extensions, due to FEMA emergency declarations. All taxpayers in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina also have until May 1, while taxpayers in certain locations in Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia also have an extra two weeks to file.

In Los Angeles, where wildfires destroyed thousands of home this winter, taxpayers will have until October to file their returns.

 

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Gritters Library closed Monday for transformer installation

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Submitted information:

Gritters Library located at 880 Shaw Park Road in Marietta, Georgia will be closed Monday, April 14 due to a transformer installation. We expect the library to reopen on Tuesday, April 15 for regular hours. Stay updated by visiting cobbcounty.org/library.

Nearby libraries include Mountain View Regional Library (map) and Switzer Library (map).

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Cobb libraries offer ‘perks’ program with local businesses

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Cobb libraries offer 'perks' program with local businesses

Submitted information and photo:

Cobb County Public Library announces the launch of the CCPL Perks Program during National Library Week, offering exclusive discounts to library cardholders at popular participating Marietta Square businesses.

With over 480,000 cardholders, Cobb County Public Library serves a large and diverse community, and now, library cardholders can receive a 10% discount at participating Marietta Square shops, restaurants, and service providers simply by presenting their library card. The CCPL Perks Program is designed to encourage library membership, support small businesses, and strengthen connections between the library, local businesses, and the community.

Funded by the Georgia Public Library Service 2025 Marketing Grant, this program is part of a broader effort to expand library services and benefits throughout Cobb County. While the pilot program begins in Marietta Square, the Cobb County Public Library aims to expand the CCPL Perks Program across the county, including those areas near its 15 library locations.

Participating Marietta Square Businesses Offering Cobb Library Card Discounts

The following Marietta Square businesses are the first official CCPL Perks Partners, providing a 10% discount to Cobb Library cardholders:

  • Marietta Proper,  9 W Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060, Cozy brunches with gourmet coffee, curated wine selections, and small plate pairings reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era.
  • Hamp & Harry’s, 168 Roswell St NE, Marietta, GA 30060, Delicious small plates and craft cocktails in a vibrant, neighborhood restaurant.
  • Warm Hugs Bakery, 156 Roswell St NE, Marietta, GA 30060, Cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, brownies, and traditional Turkish confections like baklava.
  • Sweet Treats Ice Cream, 134 S Park Square NE, Marietta, GA 30060, Soft-serve ice cream with customizable toppings, hot chocolate, and a variety of candies.
  • Bomb Babes, Pop-up with assorted gourmet cake bombs, cupcakes, and more. Find them at The Local Exchange at the Marietta Square or look for their next pop-up shop here:

New businesses will be added to the CCPL Perks Program regularly. Visit the Cobb Library’s website for an updated list of Perks Partners.

Are You a Local Business in Cobb County? Join the CCPL Perks Program!

The Cobb County Public Library invites local businesses throughout Cobb County to join the CCPL Perks Program and benefit from increased visibility and community engagement. Interested businesses can sign up or learn more by contacting Allyson at allyson.eads@cobbcounty.org or by visiting cobbcounty.org/library/services/perks.

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Cobb delays Columns Drive median tree-cutting after protests

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ECN photo

Plans by the Cobb Department of Transportation to cut down trees in medians along Columns Drive are being delayed, after residents in the East Cobb community publicly complained to county officials over the weekend.

Cobb officials said Monday they won’t be moving ahead with the tree-cutting for now, after more than 1,000 people signed a petition in protest, entitled “STOP Cobb County’s Plans to Cut Down Trees on Columns Drive Median.”

Cobb DOT had planned to remove and replace oak and magnolia trees along most of the medians on Columns Drive, which runs along the Chattahoochee River from Johnson Ferry Road to the Cochran Shoals unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Cobb DOT cited the “significant maintenance” costs of maintaining the trees, some of which had reached the end of their lives, and safety hazards stemming as a result, after consulting with the county arborist.

Instead, the county will be re-evaluating to see which trees “pose an imminent risk to the travelling public,” and only those will be cut down, Cobb officials said in a statement Monday.

The petition was sent to the four sitting commissioners and other county officials, including with Cobb DOT.

Cobb DOT said several trees along Columns Drive have fallen in recent weeks. (Cobb Government photo)

The petition reads in part:

“We are local residents, runners, and cyclists whose daily lives have been graced by the majesty and beauty of the Oak and Magnolia trees along Columns Drive. These trees serve as an emblem of natural heritage, significantly enhancing the local aesthetic while also providing myriad environmental benefits. Regrettably, the Cobb County last week approved plans to cut down these mature trees, purportedly to reduce maintenance costs.

“We adamantly believe this decision would lead to a tragic loss of a Cobb County treasure that is not easily quantifiable in monetary terms.”

Both Cobb officials and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said in statements to East Cobb News that initial plans were to cut trees in 11 of the 18 medians along Columns Drive, which is a popular pedestrian and biking path, and to replace most of them.

The cost of that work was to have been $215,000, with the funding coming from a contingency fund for former Commissioner Jerica Richardson.

“This project remained a priority, as three trees have fallen within the last month,” according to the county statement from Cobb DOT director Drew Raessler. “Work was originally scheduled to begin next week. However, we do understand the community concerns that have been raised.

“The plan is for [Cobb DOT] Road Maintenance to work with an arborist to scale the project down by identifying just the trees that pose an imminent risk to the travelling public. Just those trees will be removed and replaced with trees that match the character of the corridor.”

Columns Drive also is susceptible to flooding during heavy rains, and leaves and other tree debris can contribute to clogging up drains. Portions of the road were closed in September after flooding that was caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

One of the signatories to the petition is resident Jeff Cohen, who told East Cobb News Monday that “the commissioners were discussing flood prevention and came up with this looney idea, rather than just cleaning the drains more often. We were blindsided.”

Before the county announced a delay in tre-cutting, other East Cobb community entities brought the matter to light.

Big Peach Running Co. on Johnson Ferry Road posted a message on its Facebook page urging signatures for the petition, as “our beloved Columns Drive is facing a challenge that could change its scenic charm. . . . These trees not only beautify our running, walking and cycling route but also provide essential environmental benefits. Let’s unite to preserve the natural heritage of our community.”

Raessler said in the statement that “we’re still working on the details of the revised scope of the work on Columns Drive and we will share those details when completed.”

Cobb delays Columns Drive median tree-cutting after protests
ECN photo of a tree in Columns Drive median at the intersection of Atlanta Country Club Drive.

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Proposed Cobb FY 2026 budget would increase by nearly $100M

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Cobb Republican Party chooses new chairwoman and officers

Cobb government finance officials on Tuesday presented an overview of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that would increase spending by nearly $100 million.

During a Cobb Board of Commissioners work session, Chief Financial Officer William Volckmann said the formal budget budge tproposal would come to a little more than $1.35 billion, based on requests from department heads.

That’s up $92.7 million from the adopted FY 2025 budget of $1.27 billion, with $74,3 million coming from the general fund.

(You can view current and recent budget details here; updated FY 2026 information also will be posted at that link.)

Much of the additional funding would pay for 290 new requested positions across the government, primarily in public safety, as well as increases in costs for pensions, health care and other employee benefits and insurance.

The biggest single increase in funding by department is the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, which is requesting 113 new full-time positions for a total budget of around $27 million.

Volckmann didn’t break down how many of those positions would be for patrol officers and support staff.

“This is quite a big budget request,” said Commissioner Keli Gambrill, who asked for a breakdown of positions within the Sheriff’s Office that may provide duplicative services.

The second-largest jump comes from Cobb Police, which is asking for an additional $8.8 million, with $5.8 million earmarked for 17 new full-time positions.

Information technology spending would go up by $6 million, and $5 million more is being requested by the library system, with most of that funding for capital improvements, Volckmann said.

The Cobb County Water Fund—which is separate from the general fund, the main source of government operations—would increase by nearly $12 million, primarily for additional maintenance and infrastructure costs for water, sewer and stormwater management.

Water revenues are derived from water and sewer bills paid by commercial and residential customers. Commissioners voted in December to approve water and sewer rate increases through 2029, at an additional 3.5 percent each 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.

The current FY 2025 budget was adopted with growth in the tax digest coming to more than 7 percent.

But last week, the Cobb Tax Assessor’s Office projected digest growth of only 2 percent for 2025.

Commissioners have come under fire from citizens both years for not “rolling back” the property tax rate to offset the additional revenues.

Tuesday’s presentation was the kickoff to a formal budget presentation at the end of June.

He said before then, commissioners will receive detailed binders with the budget proposals and will be able to discuss revenue projections before prioritizing requests.

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.

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Server outage affecting some Cobb government online systems

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Submitted information:Cobb County Government logo

Some Cobb County services remain impacted by a server outage prompted by an unscheduled maintenance operation over the weekend. Residents may find certain online services unavailable, and email communications may be slow or delayed.

Departments are open during regular hours, and the county’s phone system is operating normally. The county’s court system was operating today, although specific filing systems and non-cash payment services may not be available. Residents with questions about the status of cases should contact the appropriate court for information.

Anyone wishing to schedule a building inspection should call the Community Development Department at 770-528-2060 rather than attempting to schedule online.

Cobb County Information Technology Services detected unusual activity on a county server, prompting a maintenance operation over the weekend that required taking multiple servers offline. Restoring these servers has taken longer than anticipated, impacting various county systems. Services are being brought back online gradually, but we do not yet have a timeline for complete restoration. The website, bill pay services, and phone service are operating normally.

During normal business hours, please contact 770-528-1000 or email information@cobbcounty.org for further assistance.

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Cobb libraries enable wireless printing from mobile devices

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Submitted information:

Print from any of our public computers or wirelessly from your device! Black and white prints are $0.15 per page. Color printing is $0.50 per page.

Print from a Laptop (from home or in the library)

  • Save the file you want to print to your computer.
  • Go to our SmartALEC online printing service webpage and log in with your library card number and PIN.
  • After you log in to the printing service webpage, upload the file you want to print: click [1] Select a file to upload, choose your file, then click [2] Upload.
  • Visit any of our libraries and use the print release station to complete printing.

Print from a Mobile Device

If you are printing with SmartALEC for the first time, you’ll need to enter your library card number and PIN on the SmartALEC online printing service webpage before using the app.

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Projected 2025 Cobb tax digest cools off to 2 percent growth

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Highland Pointe, East Cobb real estate sales

After a heated rise in the real estate market over the last two years, the projected tax digest for Cobb County is expected to cool off a bit.

Outgoing Cobb Tax Assessor Stephen White announced in a county release Tuesday that expected growth in the tax digest this year will be 2 percent.

That’s down from 8.52 percent last year and a record digest of $60 billion.

The 2025 tax digest projection, which is set by the Cobb Board of Tax Assessors, would come to $62 billion.

The tax digest is official assessed value of all taxable properties in the county, including residential, commercial and personal property.

Local governments base their budget and millage rates on the tax digest, which is formalized in July.

(Here’s more information on the tax digest and related details.)

White and new Cobb Tax Assessor Christine Stinchcomb detailed the 2025 projection in the video below; White said that one of the main reasons for lesser growth in the tax digest is that the number of reassessed properties this year will be substantially lower than in 2024.

In addition, the average home sale price in Cobb grew by only $20,000 last year, hovering just under the $500,000 mark.

By contrast, in May 2024, that average was $533,557, an all-time high.

In 2020, the average home sale price in Cobb was $346,715.

“Just two years ago, the average price of a home in Cobb County increased by $50,000; this year, it’s only $20,000—so things are changing,” said White, who recently was named Cobb Support Services Agency director.

He said that’s a result of the local real estate market, especially the residential sector, slowing down.

White added that not just the number of reassessments are down this year, but also the rate of the increase in assessments also has gone down, but he did not elaborate.

The Cobb tax digest grew by double-digit figures in both 2022 and 2023, primarily due to sharply rising asssessments that prompted citizen outcry.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners has not reduced its general fund millage rate in that time. The Cobb Board of Education did slightly, in 2023.

Full tax assessments will go out in May; the final tax digest is issued in July, as Cobb commissioners consider the fiscal year 2025 budget and just after the Cobb school board finalizes its fiscal year 2025 budget, which goes into effect on July 1.

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Cobb Police Precinct 6 to have ribbon-cutting ceremony

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

The Cobb Police DUI Task Force has been working out of a new precinct building in Northeast Cobb that will eventually include some patrol beats and other functions.

On April 4 there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Precinct 6, located near the Mountain View Aquatic Center, followed by tours that are open to the public.

The event, which lasts from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (3141 Hong Way) is a culmination of a years-long process to build and staff a new precinct.

According to Cobb officials, the total price tag for the construction will be $8.2 million. That includes an additional $500,000 coming from discretionary funding via District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell. In 2023, commissioners approved $7.7 million to complete a project that was initially budgeted for $5 million in 2016 Cobb SPLOST funds.

But construction cost increases delayed the opening of Precinct 6.

When commissioners approved the additional $2.2 million in spending in 2023, the building was only 60 percent complete, with most of the interior build-out still to come.

Work was halted altogether after groundbreaking in 2021, as construction costs for a number of county projects skyrocketed.

That prompted some creative financing activities, notably including the new Gritters Library/Northeast Cobb Community Center replacement.

After the Precinct 6 ribbon-cutting, some Cobb Police officers and administrative personnel will be working during daytime hours at the Precinct 6 building.

Cobb spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that “Cobb PD is studying its precinct beats and will eventually reconfigure beats in Precincts 1, 4, and the new 6 to have six beats running out of the new precinct. That process is expected to take 12-18 months.”

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Cobb County government releases 2024 annual report

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Cobb County government releases 2024 annual report

Cobb County Government’s annual report is typically a compendium of positive news about how citizens’ taxpayer dollars are spent.

The county released its 2024 report last week (you can download and read it here). The highlights include such activities as the opening of the new Gritters Library, the hiring of 75 new police officers, the opening of a family advocacy center in the Cobb District Attorney’s Office and various road and transportation projects.

In the introduction, under one of the county’s proudest continuing accomplishments—the 27th consecutive year Cobb has earned a Triple A credit rating—Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid slipped in this item:

“Accepting a judicial ruling regarding district lines, after asserting home rule to follow maps of our local delegation”

That sentence came under a subhead entitled “integrity” but didn’t elaborate.

The Board of Commissioners currently is down to four members because of that matter, the “home rule” redistricting flap that led to former District 2 Commissioner Jerica Richardson’s seat being declared vacant in what turned out to be a two-year dispute.

Cobb judges ruled more than once that Richardson, Cupid and Monique Sheffield—the board’s Democratic majority from 2021-24—violated the Georgia Constitution in observing maps that were drawn by the county’s legislative delegation and not the legislature.

The controversy also prompted special elections that are currently underway to succeed Richardson, an East Cobb resident, and in District 4 in South Cobb (which Sheffield has represented), because the “home rule” maps were used in 2024 primaries.

Im January, after her term had technically expired, Richardson declared herself a “de facto” commissioner, but the Georgia Court of Appeals declined to hear her final appeal to stay in office until her successor was elected.

There’s early voting this week in a Democratic runoff for District 2, which includes several precincts in the East Cobb area.

The general election for those races will conclude on April 29.

Cobb Elections is estimating that the special elections are costing taxpayers more than $1.5 million, a number not included in the annual report.

Here’s more of what Cupid included in her introduction to the annual report:

INNOVATION

  • Opening the first Family Advocacy Center in Georgia through our District Attorney’s Office
  • Introducing microtransit through “CobbLinc Go” in South Cobb

INTELLIGENT

  • Debuting findhelp.cobbcounty.gov to list helpful services ranging from mental health to housing
  • Supporting police by launching our Community Assistance Response Team

INCLUSION

  • Releasing recommendations to improve disparity in procurement
  • Funding our first year of inclement weather shelter for those in need
  • Increasing voter participation and enhancing student voter initiatives

INVESTMENT

  • Holding the county’s first sustainability forum and obtaining a $550 million grant to improve recycling and to update vehicle charging stations
  • Opening the new, expanded Gritters Library with onsite workforce development
  • Connecting with more than 500 businesses, obtaining $640 million in business investment and awarding $50,000 in small business grants

Our successes highlight our shared power when we serve the public good. Each accomplishment helps us to be a thriving, innovative, and safe community that enhances the quality of life for the well-being of all.

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Cobb Tax Assessors board names new director, chief appraiser

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Submitted information and photo:

Cobb Tax Assessors board names new director chief appraiserOn Wednesday, the Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors appointed Christine Stinchcomb as the new Director and Chief Appraiser of the Tax Assessors Office.

Stinchcomb brings over 25 years of experience in property tax services, beginning her career at the Paulding County Tax Assessors Office before serving as a manager with the Georgia Department of Revenue. Most recently, she held the position of Commercial Division Manager at the Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors Office.

She succeeds Stephen White, who was recently promoted to Support Services Director for Cobb County Government.

The Chief Appraiser is a state-mandated position responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the Tax Assessors Office and overseeing the appraisal of every parcel in the county at least once every three years.

A Cobb County resident, Stinchcomb has two grown sons.

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Cobb opts out of property tax law; starts 2028 SPLOST process

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Cobb opts out of property tax law; starts 2028 SPLOST process

After hearing the pleas of citizens to opt out of a new state law capping property taxes, the Cobb Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to do just that.

By a 4-0 vote, commissioners voted against adopting HB 581, a law passed by the Georgia legislature in 2024 designed to limit property tax increases at the local level.

Georgia voters later approved a Constitutional amendment that tied property tax increases to the previous year’s inflation rate.

But citizens speaking during public comment and commissioners agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that the current homestead exemptions in Cobb are more beneficial.

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb said that she received 215 messages in support of opting out of the law, and only two in favor of it.

“What we’ve had in place is better for the citizens and is beneficial for taxpayers,” she said to loud applause right before the vote.

Cobb’s decision follows similar action by the Cobb Board of Education, the Marietta City Council and Marietta Board of Education and city governments in Smyrna, Powder Springs, Acworth and Kennesaw.

Local governments have until March 1 under the new law to decide whether to opt out.

But speakers claimed Tuesday that HB 581 was altered by lobbyists to trigger automatic tax increases that elected bodies could do nothing about.

Some called HB 581 is “a shameless con” and others called it a “joke.”

Resident Ann Parsons called it “a politician’s dream. More money. No consequences.”

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid made the motion to pass the opt-out resolution, saying that “we feel the pain of our citizens who are here” and “we are fortunate to live in Cobb” because of the existing homestead exemptions.

In other action Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-0 to begin a process that would call for a referendum in 2026 to renew the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), which collects a one-percent sales tax to fund county construction, maintenance, improvements and technology operations.

The current SPLOST ends at the end of 2027.

The resolution passed Tuesday did not indicate how long the next SPLOST collection period might be, nor did it provide an estimate for how much money would be raised.

Birrell asked deputy county manager Jimmy Gisi if it was “premature” to ask for those details.

He said it would be, because the county first must meet with officials from Cobb’s cities as well as county staff to begin developing a project list.

The maximum SPLOST collection period is six years.

The proposed timeline leading up to a 2026 referendum (click here) would include meetings with the other cities this year, followed by an Oct. 1 deadline for a draft project list to be submitted.

In early 2026, the county would conduct public input and town hall meetings, with commissioners to approve the final project list next April.

Commissioners also would have to vote separately to hold a referendum in November 2026.

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Cobb Medical Examiner identifies ‘cremains’ at funeral home

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Cobb Medical Examiner identifies 'cremains' at funeral home

Nearly a year after a fire partially damaged a now-closed funeral home in Northeast Cobb, the Cobb Medical Examiner’s office has identified the cremated remains of at least 57 individuals at that building.

Cobb government said in a release Wednesday morning that Medical Examiner Christopher Gulledge has posted a list of those people whose remains were taken from the former Norman Medford Peden funeral home on Canton Road.

The funeral home had closed and the building had been scheduled for a foreclosure auction on April 23, 2024 when the fire broke out. Initial reports indicated there were no remains of any deceased.

But the county said that remains were recovered at the funeral home in November and turned over to the Cobb Medical Examiner’s Office.

“We hope to provide answers to any family with lingering questions about a loved one’s passing,” Gulledge said in the release. “Our office has worked tirelessly to identify these cremains using various methods, and we are committed to reuniting them with their families.”

His office said that if any cremains may belong to a loved one, survivors should contact the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office at 770-590-6596 or via email at gillian.fletcher@cobbcounty.org.

Individuals have May 30 to claim the cremains.

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Cobb asked to consider holding SPLOST referendum in 2026

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Cobb asked to consider holding SPLOST referendum in 2026

Cobb County officials will present the Board of Commissioners with a proposal on Tuesday to consider holding a referendum in November 2026 to continue collecting the county’s Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

The current 2022 SPLOST, which collects a one-percent sales tax to fund county construction, maintenance, improvements and technology operations, expires at the end of 2027.

The proposed timeline leading up to a 2026 referendum (click here) would include meetings with officials from Cobb’s seven cities this year, followed by an Oct. 1 deadline for a draft project list to be submitted.

In early 2026, the county would conduct public input and town hall meetings, with commissioners to approve the final project list next April.

Commissioners also would have to vote to hold a referendum and the county would have to publicly advertise it.

The proposed process is similar to the current and previous SPLOST approvals.

The resolution attached to Tuesday’s agenda item (click here) doesn’t indicate a length for the 2028 SPLOST, nor does it estimate an amount to be collected. Typically they’ve been for five- and six-year periods since first being approved to start in 2011.

The six-year, $750 million 2022 SPLOST was approved in 2020, and includes $329.8 million—more that half of all revenues—for transportation and road improvement projects.

Of those new road projects, the big-ticket item in East Cobb is $3.9 million for intersection improvements at Post Oak Tritt Road and Holly Springs Road. Another $2.4 million would be used for Canton Road corridor improvements.

Another project on the 2022 list is the development of Ebenezer Downs Park on Ebenezer Road, at a cost of around $3 million.

Also on the project list are renovations and improvements at Fullers Park, Sewell Park, Terrell Mill Park, the Mountain View Aquatic Center. additional amenities at East Cobb Park and video surveillance cameras at the Mountain View Regional Library.

Tuesday’s presentation will come during the regular agenda portion of the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. 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.

Commissioners also will hold a final public hearing and will be asked to vote on a measure to opt out of a new state homestead exemption law.

A number of local governments and elected bodies, including the Cobb Board of Education, have opted out of the law, which caps the rate of property tax increases, saying current homestead and exemptions are more beneficial to parents and taxpayers.

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April deadline nears to file for Cobb homestead exemption

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Johnson Ferry-Shallowford master plan

Submitted information:

It’s time to apply for homestead exemptions. A homestead exemption is savings on property taxes available to homeowners who meet certain qualifications, such as residency.

Use the online form at cobbtax.org/property/exemptions.php to submit a 2024 Homestead Exemption application. Applications must be received, or USPS postmarked, by April 1 to be accepted for this tax year.

Other exemptions you can apply for include disability, state veterans disability, state senior age 65, Cobb County School Tax exemption for homeowners over 62 and more.

To learn more and apply, click here.

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Former Cobb Tax Assessor named to new county role

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Stephen White, who has been the Cobb Tax Assessor since 2013, has been appointed the Cobb Support Services Agency director.

He was appointed Jan. 27 by the Cobb Board of Commissioners and begins his new role on Feb. 17.

He succeeds Sharon Stanley, who has retired.

Cobb Support Services oversees a number of county departments, including information technology services, procurement, property and fleet management and the tax assessor’s office.

White has been with the tax assessor’s office since 2005, starting as a senior appraiser, and was named a deputy chief in 2010.

As assessor, he oversaw daily operations of the office and the compilation of the county tax digest.

Richardson removed from office after appeals court rejection

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Cobb approves $7M Lower Roswell Road construction contract

Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson is no longer in office after the Georgia Court of Appeals declined to hear her appeal.

Richardson, a one-term Democrat whose tenure representing District 2 expired at the end of 2024, is no longer a “de facto” commissioner, as she described herself in taking up the appeal last month.

A Cobb Superior Court judge ruled on Dec. 31 that Richardson could no longer serve, due to Cobb residency requirements.

Her district lines were changed in 2022 during reapportionment and drew her out of her East Cobb home, triggering a legal battle lasting more than two years.

On Wednesday, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid issued a statement saying that “I respect the decision of Georgia’s Court of Appeals and look forward to moving beyond the divisive issues of the past few years.

“Unfortunately, this process has temporarily left residents of one district without their commissioner on the board. However, our intent from the beginning has been to uphold the rights of our citizens and ensure that those they elect have the opportunity to serve.”

For the time being, the five-member commission is down to four members, and will likely stay that way until the end of April, at the conclusion of special elections for District 2 and District 4.

Updated, 10:30 pm:

Here’s what Richardson posted on social media Wednesday night:

I stand by my statement that it is unacceptable for 200,000 to go unrepresented and for our legislature to have the legal authority to systematically remove elected officials. For the last four years, this office has been under attack by the entire state infrastructure because change is scary for so many. Unfortunately, the unknown is exploited so that power can be transferred from the hands of many to the hands of few.

Early voting in those primaries began on Saturday. District 2 formerly included some of East Cobb, which is now mostly in District 3.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt said Wednesday there wouldn’t be an interim appointment to fill the District 2 seat, since the special elections fall outside a 180-day window for such action.

District 2 includes some areas of East Cobb near I-75, as well as most of the city of Marietta, Smyrna and the Cumberland-Vinings area.

The special elections were ordered by another Cobb judge following May 2024 primaries that followed “hone rule” maps approved by Cupid, Richardson and Monique Sheffield, the other Democratic commissioner, that differed from the legislative maps signed into law.

Court rulings rejected the “home rule” maps, since the Georgia Constitution requires that county redistricting be approved by the legislature.

District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, a Republican, said last month that “it’s time to put an end to ignoring the Constitution and the laws of this state and the county and go back to the real business of the county at hand.”

Richardson hasn’t commented on the appeals court’s decision not to hear her appeal. Her colleagues declared her seat vacant in December, but she had the right to appeal.

But when Richardson resumed her seat in January, she was adamant that it was important to fight a “precedent” in the legislature not honoring a local delegation redistricting map.

“This fight was never about me but about protecting American values,” she said.

Commissioners meet for their first business meeting without Richardson on Tuesday, with split 2-2 partisan lines.

More from Richardson’s statement:

“To my community: In many ways we won the minor battle- I was able to serve a complete term, although tumultuous, as a result of bold leadership and constant action from an empowered and educated community. I hope that the legacy of this office is to know if we take ownership of our government, we can accomplish so much and fight off some of the most terrible threats to our safety and stability. While there is much to be proud of, the warfront is bigger than the battle. This precedent is set, and our state delegation now has a legal, but undemocratic power. We must not cease in our fight to reinstate checks and balances. That is true from the top of our government all the way to the bottom. No one should be above the law, and everyone should be equally protected by the law. That is this nation’s moral high ground and we cannot lose it. I may be out of office, but I am not out of ideas, nor am I out of a community. We will continue to stand up for what is right and pull together to accomplish the impossible.

“As I have mentioned before, there is an election underway to choose my successor. A lot is at stake, and we need people in office who are going to go beyond the bare minimum. That means, as a voter, more than the bare minimum is required from you. Get to really know each of the candidates. Challenge them on the challenges we face today. Ask them how they are going to tackle all of facets of the job. This is your representation, and if the last few weeks have demonstrated anything — elections have consequences.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.”

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AARP Foundation-Tax Aide offering free tax filing services

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Submitted information:AARP free tax preparation sessions

Once again, AARP Foundation Tax-Aides will be helping low to moderate income households prepare and file their 2024 taxes at no charge.

This year, appointments are available at Gritters Library, South Cobb Library, and the Senior Wellness Center on Mondays, East Cobb Library on Tuesdays, Wolfe Recreation and Ward Recreation on Wednesdays, Mountain View Library and Switzer Library on Thursdays, and Robertson Community Center on Fridays.

Appointments are needed. You can find the nearest location by going to https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations/ and entering your zip code.

TaxAide volunteers will confirm appointment requests made by email or in person. Membership in AARP is not required but appointments are required. Bring your 2023 returns and 2024 tax documents, your social security card or other identification documents for yourself and all dependents. For direct deposit refunds, you must have a valid check.

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!