Cobb County is poised to close its two government service centers in January as part of cost-saving measures taken to balance a $720.4 million spending plan.
The centers, located along Lower Roswell Road in east Cobb County and on Austell Road in Austell, offer residents a one-stop location for a range of services including collection of property tax and water bill payments, as well as providing applications for voter and Social Security registration and handicapped parking permits.
“We are more of a convenience because everything we do can be done at other offices in the county,” said Kathy Davis, service center administrator and 18-year county employee.
Although convenient, the duplication of resources prompted county commissioners to put the centers on the chopping block.
“I think it will be a little bit of pain for folks, but it’s not like you’re closing the only place for people to do something. It’s a convenience thing,” said Commissioner Bob Ott, who suggested the closings along with several other options that were considered for budget cuts. “We have to make some hard choices right now and unfortunately those choices are looking at things that are kind of the luxuries.”
Closing both the service centers is expected to save about $250,000, according to the county’s finance director. The five full-time employees will lose their jobs, but can apply for other county positions.
Like other jurisdictions, Cobb has been hurt by the recession and depressed housing market. To stem declining revenues, the county offered an early retirement incentive earlier this year and is delaying a number of maintenance and improvement projects while leaving several positions vacant and unfunded.
“Things happen and we understand that we are one of those things,” Davis said. She and other employees were notified of the closures on Tuesday. “I look at it as [the commission] was not cutting services, just cutting back locations for services."
In 2009, the centers collected about $16.2 million in taxes and fees. An additional 232,850 people were assisted with other issues, according to Davis’ statistics.
Maya Patterson, 42, has been using the east Cobb service center since she moved to the county almost 10 years ago.
“This is an excellent resource in the county. I am able to do everything I need right here in one place,” said Patterson, who was renewing tags for two vehicles and applying for a Homestead exemption on a new home.
Patterson's sentiments were echoed by other residents using the center Tuesday, including Lewis Craine, 75.
"I guess now I'll have to drive everywhere and do things or pay to do things by mail," he said.
Longtime Cobb resident Cam Higgins, 68, was more fiscally conservative.
“I’d like [the commission] to spend their money as wisely as they can,” he said.
The county hopes to partner with the East Cobb Library just down the street from the service center to provide some of the same services provided by Davis’ staff. In south Cobb, a partnership with the city of Smyrna could allow county residents to transact much of their business at the city’s service area in a community center.
The vehicle tag offices, community meeting rooms and police and fire units in the same buildings will remain open after the service centers close.
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