2026 Budget Presented to Commissioners - Public Hearings Scheduled
Cobb’s Board Briefed on Proposed FY26 Budget
Second Year of Biennial Budget Includes Few New Items, Accounts for Rising Costs
Marietta, GA (June 24) – Cobb County’s Chief Financial Officer briefed the Board of Commissioners on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which is scheduled for a vote at the end of July. CFO Bill Volckmann reported that the General Fund is expected to increase by $18 million, reaching $643 million, while the Total Operating Budget will rise by $49 million, totaling $1.325 billion.
The county’s millage rate will remain unchanged at 8.46 mills.
“This is the second year of our biennial budget,” Volckmann explained. “We call this our ‘little budget’ versus the ‘big budget’ process. Many of the requests carry over from the prior year.”
As is typical for the second year of the biennial cycle, the FY26 budget largely mirrors the previous year’s plan, with no significant new projects.
Rising Costs, Narrowing Deficit
Despite the overall budget increase, Volckmann previously warned the board about a projected $7 million deficit. The shortfall was primarily driven by:
- Filling vacant positions, especially in public safety
- Rising operating costs (e.g., water, chemicals, electricity)
- Increasing healthcare expenses
However, the gap has narrowed thanks to lower-than-expected healthcare costs, commissioners giving up their contingency funds, and stronger growth in the tax digest, which rose by 2.7%, slightly above the projected 2%.
Employee Compensation Adjustments
This year’s proposal includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all county employees—the first since 2004. It also provides step and grade increases for public safety personnel and merit-based raises for other staff.
“This is a new request for the board,” said County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris, referencing a recent pay study that found Cobb lagging behind peer governments.
“If we can’t keep our pay competitive, we will always be behind,” added Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. “Hopefully, this will give our employees assurance that we’re committed to fair compensation.”
Limited New Positions
Although county departments requested 290 new positions to address service demands from population growth, the FY26 proposal includes just four new roles—two in the Water System and two in the Fire Department. None of these positions is funded through the General Fund.
Public Hearings Schedule
- Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM
- Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 6:30 PM
- Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
Meetings will be held in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, located in the David Hankerson Building, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.
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FY 2026 Budget Notices, News Releases, and Documents
