Cobb County Board of Commissioners Meeting – July 28, 2026
Cobb County Board of Commissioners Meeting – July 28, 2026
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners held its third and final public hearing on the proposed FY2027 budget and millage rates, followed by votes and additional public comments. The meeting included adoption of the millage rates and budget, as well as consent agenda items and a regular agenda item regarding an autonomous vehicle circulator pilot project.
Public Hearings & Testimony
- Millage Rate Hearing: The CFO presented that the general fund millage rate remains flat at 8.46 mills, fire fund at 2.97 mills, and Cumberland Special Service District 2 at 2.45 mills. The net digest grew by 5.06%, driven by a 7.6% increase in commercial property values. A detailed example showed that a home valued at $205,000 in 2018, now $452,000, would have a general fund tax bill frozen at $609 due to the floating homestead exemption, saving the homeowner $838 compared to no exemption. The fire fund portion, without a floating exemption, would rise from $234 to $537 over the same period.
- Public Testimony on Millage: Multiple speakers opposed keeping the millage rate flat, calling it a tax increase. Sabrina Mao (resident since 1983) urged rolling back the rate, citing unnecessary 2% COLA, 20 new general fund hires (down from 41 originally), and 5.9%–7% health care cost increases. Bob Kenney recommended a 0.25 mill reduction to fund COLA and AI implementation. Denny Wilson criticized the floating homestead exemption explanation and argued that rising assessments without a rollback constitute a backdoor tax increase. Virginia Choate and Robbie Hawk urged a rollback. Sally Grabs noted Well Star's 700 layoffs and the impact on homeownership. Sanjay Rani (small business owner) requested set-asides for local small businesses in county contracts (redirected to budget hearing). Carteray (District 3) supported keeping the millage flat to fund services, citing the need for affordable housing and well-funded county services. Craig Harfoot and others echoed opposition to the flat rate.
- Budget Hearing: The CFO presented the proposed $1.409 billion operating budget (up $84 million from FY26). General fund increased 4.5% (roughly matching inflation). Major changes: $17.1M increase in water/sewer capital, $5.8M water/sewer operating, $17M for new stormwater utility fund (from $0 in FY26), $14.2M for employee roster rollover, $8.1M in board-approved impact items, $3.6M in budget recommendations, and $3.2M for additional items. Proposed new positions: 23 in general fund, 27 in fire fund, 6 in stormwater utility, 3 in water/sewer. The budget includes a 2% pay scale adjustment, 3% merit for non-sworn, step increases for sworn officers, and a 4% stipend increase for Medicare-eligible retirees. The millage rate is proposed to remain flat for FY27, with estimated digest growth.
- Public Testimony on Budget: Many speakers opposed the budget. Denny Wilson urged a reduction, citing state budget cuts under Gov. Kemp. Sally Grubbs criticized the expansion of services (70 services vs. 15 mandated) and argued that the board had already decided. Virginia Choate (for Jan Barton) noted that commercial tenants pay property taxes through lease agreements, and rising taxes drive business closures. Robbie Hawk requested no new staff additions. Supporters included Donna Court and Matt Sigal (District 1), who praised the CFO's presentation and the county's AAA bond rating. Cheryl Goulds, Heather Getty Kunst, Dr. Pavitra Maoli, and Rebecca Sussman spoke in favor of funding animal services prevention (veterinary positions and $150,000 prevention line), with detailed testimony about cat overpopulation. Monica DeLancey connected budget priorities to school meal programs and eviction mitigation. Others like Craig Harfoot and Patricia Hay criticized spending and double taxation for Mableton residents.
- Additional Public Comments (after consent agenda): Speakers addressed microtransit, autonomous shuttles, Flock cameras, code enforcement, and water main damage. Gary Henderson (District 3) opposed microtransit expansion, citing the 2024 transit referendum defeat, high cost per ride (~$55), and a neighbor's failed experience with county ride service. Perry Barrett criticized the autonomous vehicle shuttle pilot, arguing it wastes funding and threatens bus driver jobs. Lance Lamberton called the expansion an end-run around voters and a wasteful program. Matt Sigal (Transit Advisory Board) supported microtransit expansion but suggested extended hours. Jonathan Jewell (Navy veteran) described water main failures causing foundation damage to his home, with no county remediation due to sovereign immunity. Sanjay Rane requested small business set-asides in procurement. Joel Becker and Susan Clark raised concerns about Flock cameras, citing privacy risks, data ownership, and potential for abuse.
Consent Calendar
- Approved by a 5-0 vote: consent agenda items including routine approvals and authorizations.
Discussion Items
- Millage Rate Resolution (Agenda Item #2): Motion to adopt resolution setting 2026 millage rates for General Fund, Fire Fund, and Cumberland Special Service District 2. Approved 3-2 (Commissioners Burrell and Gambrell opposed).
- School Tax Levy Resolution: Motion to adopt resolution for school construction bond tax levy and maintenance/operation of schools. Approved 5-0.
- FY2027 Budget Adoption: Motion to adopt the $1.409 billion budget. Approved 3-2 (Commissioners Burrell and Gambrell opposed). Commissioners made remarks: Chair Cupid emphasized the need for better budget process and communication; Commissioner Gambrell cited concerns about overspending in some departments and expansion beyond core services; Commissioner Burrell noted that a millage rollback in 2016 led to a $32M shortfall the next year; Commissioner Sheffield argued the budget balances fiscal stewardship with resident needs.
- Transportation Regular Items:
- MOU with Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority for automated fare collection system (5-0).
- Task order for construction design services on South Gordon Road (5-0).
- Cobb Framework Agreement with Cumberland CID for Autonomous Vehicle Circulator Pilot Project (approved 4-1, Commissioner Gambrill opposed). Staff clarified that funding comes from Cumberland CID and federal grant, not fixed-route funds.
- Indemnification agreements with GDOT for traffic signal pole replacement (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Millage Rates Adopted: 8.46 mills (General Fund), 2.97 mills (Fire Fund), 2.45 mills (Cumberland SSD2) – effective FY26. Vote 3-2.
- FY2027 Budget Adopted: $1.409 billion operating budget, including 2% COLA, 3% merit increases, and 59 new positions across funds. Vote 3-2.
- Autonomous Vehicle Circulator Pilot Approved: Cobb Framework Agreement with Cumberland CID approved 4-1.
- All consent agenda and remaining regular agenda items approved unanimously.
- Next Steps: The board acknowledged need for improved budget process and will explore work sessions and earlier public input. The autonomous vehicle pilot will proceed as a proof-of-concept. Public comments on microtransit expansion and Flock cameras will be considered at future meetings.
Meeting Transcript
Yes, sir. Good evening and welcome to today's Board of Commissioners meeting this July 28th, 2026. I'm pleased today that we have Father Papa Giorgio with Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. He will be providing our invocate, and that will be followed by the pledge, which will be brought by Officer Williams. For those of you both willing and able, please stand for both our invocation and our pledge. Thanks. Come and dwell in us and classes from every stain and save ourselves a good one. We offer thanksgiving to you, Lord, for all your gifts and blessings. We humbly come to you and us that you may send upon us. You have a spirit to enlighten our hearts and minds. Give us of your wisdom and knowledge. Help us to know your will for your people whom we serve. Guide us in all our decisions to do what is best for them. Help us to shine with your love and compassion. Grant us your peace and your love. Have a good meeting. Thank you. Thank you, sir. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. And so we just see it. Well, we wish you the very best in the next chapter. Yes, and thank you for blessing us with your invocation over the years. Good evening, Chairwoman Commissioners, County Manager. Uh appreciate your time today. Uh as you were stating, we do have two public hearings today. The first will be with respect to the millage rate, and then the second public hearing will be with respect to the proposed 2027 budget, both of which will be followed by a vote in adoption of both of those items immediately following those public hearings. And today is our third and final public hearing. As you can see, we have the general fund remaining uh steady at 8.46 mills, the fire fund at 2.97 mills, and the Cumberland Special Service District 2 at 2.45 mills. And again, this board is no longer responsible for the six flag special service district millage, so that is at uh zero mills. On the bottom, you'll see a bar graph just so everyone here knows the net digest between 25 and 26 grew uh at 5.06 percent. And to break down that growth uh a little more granularly, we have uh, as you can see at the bottom, the gross digest, which is that three billion dollar number, uh, that grew at 4.99%. Exemptions directly below it grew at 4.8%, and again, the net digest grew at 5.06 percent. One of the biggest boosts in this uh in this digest was the growth in commercial property. It came in at about 7.6 percent growth in 2026. Last year that was at.26 percent uh growth. So again, it was a commercial revaluation year, and we saw uh excess growth in our commercial uh property digest. Now, how all this makes sense on a taxpayer's bill. I want to walk through one moment. I want everyone to know that the gray bars are indicative of the fair market value of a home. This is a real home in Cobb County. In 2018, that home was valued at 200 uh and five thousand dollars. It was reassessed in 2022 to 317,000 dollars. It was once again reassessed in 2024 to 452,000. Now, the one thing I want uh this board to pay attention to and those watching at home is the general fund is the bright or I'm sorry, the dark blue line that is remaining flat. And if I had a laser pointer, I'd point, but it is the one that remains flat. And the reason for that is your property tax bill will remain level from the date you file your floating homestead exemption or uh apply for it, uh, and that is usually at the time of purchase, it sets back one year. So you're essentially locked in, and that means regardless of the growth of your property, even if it goes from 205,000 to 452,000. Is if this board does not touch the millage rate, the general fund portion of your bill for this board of commissioners will not go up on your bill. It will remain at that in this example at $609. If there was no floating homestead on that property, it would go up in proportion to the growth.
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