South Cobbers Support Rate Increase to Prevent Service Cuts

On Wednesday night at the , in front of a standing-room only crowd of more than 100 South Cobb residents and others, Commission Chairman Tim Lee explained that he proposed a millage rate increase so that county services would not be cut further.

held the town hall meeting to provide a forum for South Cobb community members to ask questions of Commissioner Woody Thompson, who did not declare how he would vote on the issue, and Lee about the proposed rate increase, which will be 1.6 mills more than the current rate of 9.6 mills.

Why Lee Proposed the Millage Rate Increase

Lee said the millage rate increase will keep the county from dipping further into its reserves and possibly damaging the county's triple-AAA bond rating, which saves county taxpayers from paying millions in interest.

“If we set it (the millage rate) at the current rate, we will have to go into reserves for $2.5 to $3 million for 2011 and will continue to do so for 2012,” Lee said.

He said the county has cut $57 million from its budget in the last three years:

• $19.6 million in 2008,
• $9.4 million in 2009,
• $8 million in 2010 and
• $20 million in April.

The county budget, which goes into effect in October, would need to be cut by about $32 million, if the rate increase is not approved, Lee said on Wednesday night. Lee said 68 unfilled county positions will also be eliminated in October.

He said the total net cost of services like the recreation centers, Special Olympics, park maintenance, libraries, senior centers and others is approximately $33 million.

“If I’m going to make up that (budget deficit) in cuts, every one of those services is eliminated forever, until the economy comes back,” Lee said, adding that there will be “brownouts” and “the court system will be bogged down.”

What South Cobbers Had to Say

• One South Cobb resident asked Lee why police do not have a separate fund just as fire does. Lee explained that by having police included in the county’s general fund, money from one line item can be moved to others if needed “without going through a lot of hoops to get that done.”
• Another asked if residential taxes are the county’s only source of revenue. Lee responded that 55 percent of all county revenue comes from residential taxes, However, he would like to see that percentage decrease and have more revenue come from other sources. He also said commercial property is taxed as well.
• About 18 of the nearly 20 speakers favored the millage rate increase and were particularly concerned about cuts to public safety personnel, recreation centers and senior centers.
• “The policemen, the firemen and emergency should not be touched,” one speaker said.
• Another said, “Get rid of all the old politicians that got us into this mess from here to Washington.”
• One woman suggested cutting one of the county’s two SWAT teams.
• Dennis Hayes, a Mableton resident, said when he received his property tax bill, it was down 45 percent due to the lower assessed home values. “With this millage rate, it is going to be down 40 percent. I’m happy with 40 percent.”

Passionate speakers told Lee they felt that South Cobb does not receive the same services or level of services that other areas in the county receive.

“We’re the last to get everything down here,” one speaker told Lee, to which the attendants vocally agreed.

So did Lee.

Lee explained that a pastor from South Cobb took him on “a field trip” recently and showed him a park near his home.

“Then he drove me to a park in East Cobb,” Lee continued, adding that the East Cobb park had more available than the one he had been shown in South Cobb. “And it was the worst park in East Cobb.”

He is going to meet with community stakeholders in the next couple of weeks to take a comprehensive look at the programs in South Cobb in an effort to improve them.

“We want to bring the parks in southwest Cobb up to the minimal of parks in East Cobb,” Lee said. A few attendants snickered.

Thompson Does Not Reveal How He Will Vote

Many of the individuals in attendance were unhappy that Thompson did not reveal how he intends to vote on this issue.

“He could’ve built up the confidence of those in this area by letting us know he supported us by maintaining services for our children…and that the quality of life here is not diminished when we already feel it’s not at the level of that of other areas in the county,” said Lisa Cupid, who facilitates the Austell Community Partnership monthly meetings.

Although pleased with the turnout, Morgan said “it’s disappointing that he (Thompson) is not convinced with this turnout and what was said.”

Morgan said the millage rate increase “is critical for our community. We don’t function well without a rec center or a strong public safety presence. These are not leisure items or extras. These are necessities.”

However, Thompson said he still has questions for Lee and that he wants to “turn over every rock.”
“It did sound like a scare tactic tonight,” Thompson said.