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.
Related:
- Cobb Tax Assessors board names new director, chief appraiser
- Cobb opts out of property tax law; starts 2028 SPLOST process
- Cobb Medical Examiner identifies ‘cremains’ at funeral home
- April deadline nears to file for Cobb homestead exemption
- Former Cobb Tax Assessor named to new county role
- Richardson’s office declared vacant after appeals court rejected
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