Cobb County's proposed $1.15 billion SPLOST renewal is drawing both praise and pushback from residents ahead of the Nov. 3 vote, according to the county's SPLOST brochure.

Supporters say the 1% sales tax has delivered parks, trails, fire stations and other county facilities since the program began in 1995. Critics argue the spending has drifted from core infrastructure toward projects they consider less essential, the Marietta Daily Journal first reported Monday, Oct. 5.

Lance Lamberton, a member of the Cobb Taxpayers Association, and Mableton resident Doug Vinson both told the MDJ they plan to vote no, with Lamberton objecting to the cost and scope of specific projects and Vinson arguing the SPLOST should be weighed alongside increases in other county taxes. Vinings resident Ethan Milam said he plans to vote yes, citing past projects such as the Noonday Creek Trail and Depot.

As we reported Saturday, Oct. 3, the six-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) would collect revenue from Jan. 1, 2028, through Dec. 31, 2033, if voters approve it. The current SPLOST expires Dec. 31, 2027. County materials describe the renewal as a continuation of the existing tax, not an increase, and note Cobb remains tied with two other counties for the lowest sales tax rate in Georgia at 6%.

For East Cobb, the project list includes a new permanent library to replace the leased space at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center at Johnson Ferry and Lower Roswell Roads. The current East Cobb Library drew more than 132,000 visitors in 2024 and ranks as the second-highest circulating branch out of 15 in the county system, according to county SPLOST project documents. The 20-year lease on the current 16,864-square-foot retail space expires July 31, 2029.

The project list also includes new Tritt Park construction and Johnson Ferry Road corridor improvements. Countywide, transportation improvements account for about $309 million of the proposed budget, with $130 million earmarked for roadway resurfacing across about 2,400 miles of unincorporated county roads, according to the county's SPLOST booklet.

A final SPLOST education session is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the David Hankerson Building, 2nd floor, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta. Residents can email questions to [email protected].