Lee Talks of Closing Barnes Amphitheatre & More

The South Cobb Arts Alliance Summer Candlelite Series at the Barnes Amphitheatre may be cut indefinitely, along with the amphitheatre itself if Cobb County Commissioner Tim Lee’s proposed budget cuts are approved at the Tuesday budget meeting.

According to a story in the Marietta Daily Journal, Lee’s plan to cover the $31 million county budget deficit includes closing the amphitheatre, along with other actions such as cutting each department’s budget by 3.5 percent.

Right now the concert series is free, but South Cobb Commissioner Woody Thompson said the county allowed promoters to rent the amphitheatre for $12,000 this past year, instead of hosting paid concerts.

“We didn’t have any money in it,” Thompson said. “We put the burden of making a profit on them.”

Although the Barnes Amphitheatre at the Mable House complex may shut its gates indefinitely, and the proposed cuts would take effect on May 1, meaning the concert series would be cut since the first concert is on May 21.

However, unlike other areas throughout the county, South Cobb would still have its regional library. The South Cobb Regional Library would be one of the four remaining county-operated libraries in the county. Right now, the county operates 17 libraries.

Currently the tennis centers around the county have fees, as do the aquatic centers. The commissioners are also considering cutting hours on certain facilities, Thompson said.

“That’s something we did recently with the libraries,” he said.

When it comes to the Cobb County Transit, Thompson said, “I knew good and well we’re not going to eliminate bus services.”

However, Thompson said they are “taking it to the public” to get feedback about a fare increase. Right now, the transportation is supported by state and federal subsidies.