East Cobb property owners without the floating homestead exemption will pay more in county taxes next year, even though the millage rate isn't going up.
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday, July 28, to adopt a $1.41 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget that holds the general fund millage at 8.46 mills but relies on rising property values across the county to fund 59 new positions, a 2% employee cost-of-living raise, and a new stormwater utility fund. Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and Commissioners Monique Sheffield and Denny Wilson voted yes. Republican Commissioners Keli Gambrill and JoAnn Birrell voted no.
The split wasn't just about dollars.
Birrell and other commissioners criticized the budget process during the meeting and called for more transparent and collaborative discussions in future deliberations, according to the Marietta Daily Journal. Concerns about last-minute additions had surfaced as early as the July 14 public hearing, when several commissioners questioned how priorities were being set.
What it means for your tax bill
The 8.46-mill general fund rate has held steady since 2018. But because assessed property values rose faster than the rollback rate (4.07% in the general fund alone), Georgia law required the county to advertise the budget as a "tax increase."
Homeowners who claimed the floating homestead exemption for the 2026 tax year will see no change in their county maintenance-and-operations bill, according to the county's budget page, provided they made no changes affecting taxable value. Everyone else should expect a higher bill.
Where the money goes
The total operating budget jumps roughly $84 million over FY2026, according to MDJ's budget breakdown. The general fund alone grows $29 million, from $643.1 million to $672.1 million.
"The FY27 budget is a responsible plan that addresses the county's most pressing needs while maintaining our commitment to fiscal stewardship," CFO Buddy Tesar said in June when he first presented the spending plan to commissioners.
The 59 new positions more than doubled from the 29 Tesar originally proposed. Twenty-seven of those are in the fire department, including 16 firefighters, three drivers/engineers, three lieutenants, and two inspectors assigned to a Storage and Industrial Task Force. By comparison, the county added just four positions in FY2026 and five in FY2025.
A new stormwater utility fund of roughly $17 million, including approximately $8.5 million for capital projects, appears in the budget for the first time. The $4.75 monthly stormwater fee took effect June 1 for customers in unincorporated Cobb County and Mableton.
County employees will receive the 2% COLA effective March 2027, plus merit raises of up to 3%. Medicare-eligible retirees get a 4% bump to their insurance stipend, the first adjustment in about 15 years.
Process concerns
The budget process drew fire well before Tuesday's vote. At the July 14 public hearing, commissioners questioned last-minute additions and how spending priorities were communicated. The number of new positions nearly doubled between June and the final vote, and a proposed $4.5 million increase to the Sheriff's Office inmate medical services contract remains the largest anticipated expense still awaiting approval.
Commissioners also approved a $5,000 increase to each commissioner's annual office operating budget, raising the board's total from $60,850 to $95,850.
What's next
The FY2027 budget is now adopted. Residents can review the full spending plan at cobbcounty.gov/finance/budget or contact the county newsroom at (770) 528-1155.
