South Cobb Leaders Support Millage Rate Increase

About 15 passionate community leaders congregated on Saturday morning at the South Cobb Recreation Center to develop an action plan, which they have since implemented, to urge county commissioners vote on July 26 in favor of the proposed millage rate increase.

“This was an emergency meeting because it’s going to affect the community at large,” said Joan Trent, one of the organizer’s of the Saturday meeting. “We needed to bring our leaders together to discuss this, especially because our recreation centers serve as hubs in keeping our kids safe. We had to create an ‘act now’ moment.”

Commission Chairman Tim Lee proposed increasing the current millage rate of 9.6 mills to 11.21 mills, which would be approximately $100 more for a home with an assessed value of $200,000.

Because the assessed property values of homes have decreased in recent years, explained David Welden of the Cobb Citizens Oversight Committee, Cobb County residents will not experience a large increase of their property tax bills even with the millage rate increase.

If approved, the increase would be the first in five years.

Those who attended Saturday’s meeting agreed that the increase is needed in order to maintain recreational and cultural facilities, to ensure no more cuts will be made to departments and to help keep county workers employed.

Albert McRae, president of the Pebblebrook Jr. Falcons, said it is important that they express support of the millage rate increase as organizations like the Cobb County Tea Party and the Cobb Taxpayers Association vocalize their opposition.

Kip Thomas, who serves as the director for a youth recreational organization, Basketball Phonics, said, “If they close this facility, watch how that (the county’s juvenile detention center) fills up. Who’s taking care of those people? Our taxpayers. They don’t see the writing on the wall.”

Welden, expressing similar sentiment, said, “I think we’ve reduced services enough already, and we need to increase revenue. It’s a no-brainer. It’s very simple arithmetic.”

One of the main components of the action plan was to show solidarity at Tuesday’s two public hearings at 8 a.m. and at 6 p.m. on the millage rate increase by wearing blue and by signing up to voice their support of the increase. Other items on the plan included writing the county commissioners and urging them to support the increase and educating other community members about the possible consequences of not supporting the increase.

Residents are also invited to attend a town hall meeting with State Rep. Alisha Morgan and South Cobb Commissioner Woody Thompson about issues, including the millage rate increase, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the South Cobb Community Center on Lions Drive.

Concerned citizens who are unable to attend or speak at Tuesday’s hearings will still have the opportunity to do so before the commissioners vote on the issue on July 26.