A major expansion of the Tim D. Lee Senior Center is on a submitted project list for an extension of the Cobb Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax that may be up for referendum later this year.
According to the project list for the proposed 2028 SPLOST (you can read it here), funding to complete the purchase of the Tritt property next to East Cobb Park and to begin building that out also is being requested.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners will be asked Tuesday to approve the project list totaling nearly $795 million and that was submitted by county government department heads. The 2028 SPLOST would begin collections on Jan. 1, 2028 for six years, with nearly $1.15 billion expected (the rest would be collected by Cobb’s seven cities).
As we noted earlier this week in a story about the proposed $25 million relocation of the East Cobb Library, Cobb commissioners would have to vote to call for a referendum, and that vote is anticipated for April.
The first of several public engagement meetings about the proposed 2028 SPLOST takes place next Thursday, also at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road).
The one-percent sales tax collects revenues for county and municipal government construction and maintenance projects
The expansion for the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (formerly the East Cobb Senior Center) is being budgeted for $8.2 million. Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News this week that the facility is of one of Cobb Senior Services’ busiest locations.
“Demand for programs and services has increased significantly in recent years, resulting in full classes and long waitlists,” he said.
“With participation rising sharply and Cobb County’s senior population continuing to grow, expanding the center is essential to ensure seniors can continue to access the programs, services, and social opportunities that support healthy, active aging.”
Cavitt said the expansion would build out more space for programs and services, reduce those waitlists and overcrowding in popular classes, and provide capacity for elections.
Cobb PARKS officials have asked for $2 million to make additional purchases of the Tritt property as they continue to build out the larger East Cobb Park concept.
In 2018, commissioners approved spending $8.3 million to buy 22 acres of land owned adjacent to the park by Wylene Tritt, who also donated 7.7 acres.
The vision for that property would be to extend connections with East Cobb Park in keeping with its passive nature, including additional walking trails and possibly converting the Tritt home into an environmental education center.
Another $1 million on the SPLOST project list is being requested for the development of a master plan for that work, which Cavitt said “is to ensure we are ready to formulate a master plan and at least begin construction once we have acquired the property.”
The biggest ticket item on the list is the construction of a new Cobb State Court building, to the tune of $174 million. The current buildings on the Marietta Square are more than 60 years old and have been overcrowded for years.
Other proposals call for $135 million in road resurfacing projects, $30 million to replace the Cobb Central Aquatic Center in Marietta and $18.5 million to build a new recreation center in an unspecified area.
Among the proposed traffic improvements on the list, the following are in East Cobb:
- Shallowford Road at McPherson Road ($3.5 million)
- Canton Road at Canton Road Connector ($6 million)
- Lower Roswell Road at Old Paper Mill Road ($1.5 million)
- Johnson Ferry Road Corridor ($2.5 million)
- Shaw Road Corridor ($2 million)
The full proposed SPLOST list can be found here, with additional background information.
The Cobb commissioners meeting begins at 9 a.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.
Related:
- Cobb officials propose relocating East Cobb Library
- Cobb to hold public meetings on proposed 2028 SPLOST
- Public feedback sought on new Cobb government website
- Cobb Library Foundation starts fundraising merchandise shop
- Cobb finance director to become deputy county manager
- Cobb commissioners approve stormawater fee in split vote
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I thought the SPLOST was mostly to improve our roads but now the money is mostly being used as a slush fund for the Cobb staff favorite projects like multimillion dollar bus stops. Do we really need a new expanded library in 2026? And what is wrong with the senior center? It’s obvious there is little interest in improving roads like in the past. This plan is intended to support the county board in bringing in many more people to Cobb and using these funds to grease the skids for that. Don’t be fooled. Vote a big NO.