East Cobb Seniors

Before the Cobb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to raise user fees for a variety of county services, some East Cobb seniors voiced their opposition to the proposals.

It didn’t prevent the commissioners from voting 5-0 to levy increases, including a first-time membership fee for seniors, as they seek to find ways to close an expected $30 million budget hole for fiscal year 2019.

The senior membership fee was reduced from a proposed $100 a year per person to $60 at the request of Northeast Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who said she was concerned about seniors on a fixed income.

Of the increases overall, she said “it’s something we’ve talked about for years, and it’s much needed.”

Hope Notice, a regular at the East Cobb Senior Center, said she thought that “the raising of fees seemed to be an afterthought.” She said the membership fees are “utterly ridiculous,” and noted that seniors in Woodstock pay only $10 and in Roswell, the annual fee is $25 and includes the use of a swimming pool.

“I realize you need to raise fees, but please find other ways to raise money,” she said. “These increases are more than the norm.”

The membership fees would apply to use of any senior center in Cobb County. Commission chairman Mike Boyce said that while the fee increases approved Tuesday apply to many other services, the only e-mails he has received have come from seniors.

Shirley Scaff, another regular at the East Cobb Senior Center, told commissioners before the vote that she meets there often as part of the Knit Wits knitting group, and also belongs to a crocheting circle. She said the socializing and other benefits of staying active through the center’s many programs are vital for her and others.

“We have members from [age] 60 to 95,” she said. “We enjoy the companionship and the fellowship” and being active “keeps the mind going.” A membership fee, she said, would be “a hardship.”

East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott supported the $100 fee structure. He noted that there is a sliding scale available and that the Cobb Citizens Oversight Committee recommended increases several years ago.

The increased senior fees will go into effect on Feb. 1, 2018, along with increases the commissioners also approved Tuesday for aquatics, athletics, gymnastics and tennis fees; arts fees; picnic pavilion rentals; rentals for the Cobb Civic Center and performing arts venues; and for recreation and community centers as well as library proctoring services and meeting room rentals.

Fees to file for zoning certificates also will go up in 2018, from $40 to $100, and from $200 to $300 for film permits.

The cost for business licenses also is increasing, and will take effect on Oct. 1, 2018. The current range is $102 a year to nearly $15,000 a year (with several tiers based on gross revenues). The new fees will range from $112 to $16,400 annually.

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