The Cobb Board of Commissioners adopted a fiscal year 2021 budget on Tuesday night that includes a property tax increase and no merit increase for county employees.
Commissioners voted without discussion to adopt the $473 million general funding spending plan, which holds the line on the property tax rate at 8.66 mills. But because of additional revenues coming from growth in the Cobb tax digest and no “rollback” millage action, state law considers that a tax increase.
At Tuesday’s final slate of public hearings on the millage rate and budget proposal, no citizens signed up to speak.
The budget is effective Oct. 1.
Commissioners also approved funding from the federal CARES Act to assist the Marietta City Schools ($2.9 million) with online learning preparations and to purchase personal protective equipment for students and teachers.
Earlier this month the Cobb County School District received $8.1 million from the county in CARES Act money to purchase digital learning content.
Commissioners also voted to aid Cobb’s six cities with a total of $10.3 million CARES Act funding as follows:
- Acworth: $1,855,308
- Austell: $375,873
- Kennesaw: $1,788,904
- Marietta: $3,183,194
- Powder Springs: $805,038
- Smyrna: $2,968,559
The largest amount of the $132 million in CARES Act funding for Cobb County was $50 million in small business relief grants that were expanded last week. On Tuesday, commissioners voted to amend that plan again, designating $2 million of that amount for similar relief grants for Cobb non-profits.
Like the small businesses, the non-profits would apply and be eligible for funding for payroll and operations, with amounts based on tiers depending on the number of employees.
The non-profit grants also will be administered by SelectCobb, the economic development arm of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioners also approved the purchase of the Mansour Conference Center in Marietta, which will become the new home of the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration.
The $7.5 million acquisition will allow the previous owner, The Center for Family Resources, to lease office space from the county.
Related content
- Boyce makes ‘nice ask for masks,’ won’t issue Cobb mandate
- The East Cobb Open for Business Directory
- East Cobb News COVID-19 Resource Page
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
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!
