The Cobb County Board of Commissioners decided 3-2 Jan. 23 to ask state lawmakers to allow them to hold a county referendum on a new penny sales tax for Cobb public safety.
Promoted by Commissioner Bob Weatherford, the Other Local Option Sales Tax - also known as the Public Safety Sales and Use Tax - would “reduce the burden on property owners” and “free up resources in the general fund,” Weatherford said.
In addition to Weatherford, Commission Chairman Mike Boyce and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell were in favor. Opposed were Commissioners Lisa Cupid and Bob Ott with Ott saying he had “grave concerns.”
If the Georgia General Assembly approves the county’s measure, then it would come back to the county commissioners for them to decide whether to hold a county referendum on OLOST.
Then if the referendum took place, county voters would decide whether they want the OLOST charge as a county penny sales tax with revenues to be designated only for Cobb public safety.
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