The fiscal bloodletting that has plagued most local governments is lessening a bit in Cobb County, where the proposed budget for next year spares employees any required furlough days and fills some longtime public safety vacancies.
The proposal presented to the County Commission Tuesday is the evolution of a fiscal 2012 spending plan that once faced about a $33 million gap before the commission approved a tax increase last month.
The budget also includes a mix of ongoing reductions and spending cuts, including some recommended by a citizens oversight committee that has worked since March reviewing the county’s policies and procedures.
Cobb’s proposed general fund budget of $321.1 million is about $6.3 million less than last year’s adopted budget, but is $4 million more than the current budget, revised in April. The general fund is part of the total budget and includes the majority of the county’s spending and personnel costs.
The county’s total budget, including the water system and hotel-motel tax proceeds, is proposed at $723 million for next year. The 2011 total adopted budget approved by the commission last September was $720.6 million.
Like most counties in the metro area, Cobb’s finances took a tumble the past few years during the recession and its aftermath. The county’s tax digest, a value of property used to estimate tax revenues, decreased 14 percent since 2008, leading to a $27 million mid-year budget deficit earlier this year.The commission closed the gap with a mix of five employee furlough days, departmental cuts, closing two senior centers and fee increases.
The county’s financial outlook is more stable and sustainable going into 2012, Commission Chairman Tim Lee said. Still, he said, “we have no idea what the future holds for us, except that there will probably be another decline in our [tax] digest next year and possibly the year after that.”
The proposal for the 2012 budget, which begins in October, includes no layoffs or furlough days for county employees and fills 86 public safety vacancies, but eliminates 66 vacant positions and carries forward some cuts in service hours at places like county recreation centers and libraries. The proposal also includes fee increases for items like bus service and permits.
A cursory look at the numbers left Larry Savage, a county watchdog and commission chairman candidate, concerned about employees.
“You don’t know what the financial future holds, and with county employees not receiving raises in four years, if employees were to leave, you could end up losing your best ones,” Savage said after the budget presentation.
County employees have not received pay increases since 2008, and no increase is included in next year’s budget.
Cobb residents angry about the tax increase and a renewed county special sales tax have criticized the commission over county spending. To address some of the concerns and act on the citizens committee recommendations, the budget includes changes in insurance and some health care fees to save money.
Cobb also hopes to have an agreement with Affiniti Golf Partners of Alpharetta by Oct. 1 to lease the county’s Cobblestone Golf Course.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 31. The commission is scheduled to adopt the budget on Sept. 13.
About the Author
