Despite some pleas for relief, the Cobb Board of Education on Thursday approved maintaining the property tax rate for fiscal year 2026.
Board members voted 6-0-1 to hold the millage rate at 18.7 mills. But under state law that constitutes a property tax increase because the district is collecting more property tax revenues than in fiscal year 2025, and did not “roll back” the rate to match those revenues.
At a final tax digest hearing Thursday, several citizens asked for the board to match the “roll back” rate, which would have been 18.499 mills.
In May, the board adopted a $1.8 billion fiscal year 2026 budget that increases spending by $17.5 million from FY 2025. The new Cobb school district fiscal year began July 1.
The FY 2026 budget (which can be found at this link) was based on smaller increases in the Cobb property tax digest increases than in recent years, an expected 2.1 percent.
The district is taking $43 from its reserves and providing smaller salary increases than in recent years,
Leslie Davis, who has asked for rate reductions in past years, told board members that “your insatiable lust for more and more money has got to stop” but was doubtful that would happen.
That’s because “you already voted on a budget based on your intentions” to keep the rate the same as the last year.
“Isn’t it convenient that that the increase in the budget each year miraculously is in line with the exact increase in tax digest,” continued Davis, who said her school taxes along are going up by more than $1,000.
“Or, more likely, is it that you want to extract as much money as possible out of Cobb citizens while also claiming there is no tax increase because the millage rate is staying the same.”
She also named three Republican board members—David Chastain, Brad Wheeler and Randy Scamihorn—for taking the senior tax exemption for “not caring enough about the school system to put your own money into the school system.”
At the board’s voting meeting later Thursday, board members discussed the millage rate issue only briefly before voting to approve it. Board member Nichelle Davis of Post 6 in Smyrna voted present.
Related:
- Cobb school district to hold ‘Hop On!’ bus ride review
- Cobb superintendent defends restricting public comments
- East Cobb schools recognized with John Hancock Awards
- Cobb school board may end broadcasts of public comments
- Wheeler, Walton students receive National Merit Scholarships
- More leadership position changes made at East Cobb schools
- Georgia resumes mandatory cursive instruction in grade school
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