The mayors of Acworth and Kennesaw pitched voters on renewing Cobb County's 1% sales tax at a Cobb Chamber of Commerce panel on Thursday, July 23, framing the levy as the engine behind sidewalks, parks, and downtown development across the county. For East Cobb residents, whose SPLOST dollars flow through the county rather than a city government, the November ballot question carries direct consequences.

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allgood and Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling spoke at the panel, held at the Governors Gun Club in northwest Cobb, arguing that the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is essential to keeping pace with growth.

"We've got a renewal of SPLOST coming up and SPLOST is so important," Allgood said. "It's important to all of our cities."

What's at stake

The SPLOST is a county-wide 1% sales tax that voters approve by referendum. Revenue funds capital projects such as sidewalks, road improvements, and community spaces in both the incorporated cities and unincorporated areas like East Cobb. The tax has been in place for decades, according to a Cobb County Government social media post, funding courthouses, community centers, parks, and libraries.

The current SPLOST expires at the end of 2027. The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted in June 2026 to place the renewal on the Tuesday, November 3 ballot, East Cobb News reported on June 26.

City-level projections

Acworth is projected to collect about $48 million if voters approve the renewal, according to previous Marietta Daily Journal reporting. Kennesaw's proposed project list totals approximately $28.9 million, also per the MDJ.

Allgood said much of Acworth's share would go toward widening sidewalks, improving streets, and creating outdoor gathering spaces in the downtown business district. He said those projects would complement other development underway, including a SpringHill Suites hotel that broke ground earlier in July 2026.

Easterling pointed to the amphitheater at Depot Park, which opened in June 2024 and draws thousands of visitors, as proof the tax delivers results. He said the venue drives traffic to surrounding restaurants and businesses.

"It creates a destination," Easterling said. "[The amenities] are all feeding the different things people want in a community."

Looking ahead, Kennesaw plans to use renewal funds to improve infrastructure between Cobb Parkway and downtown and to create a pedestrian-friendly zone along Cherokee Street near the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.

East Cobb's stake

Because East Cobb is unincorporated, its SPLOST projects are managed by the county, not a city council. The county has not publicly released a detailed project list for unincorporated areas as of the panel date.

Voters will decide the SPLOST renewal on Tuesday, November 3. Residents can find information about county initiatives and public meetings on the Cobb County website.