June 3, 2025 | A judge has signed a consent order holding sanctions in abeyance.  Because the county and Mableton missed the May 31 deadline by a few days, this triggered sanctions by the Department of Community Affairs that could have made the county and its cities ineligible for state-administered financial assistance, grants, loans, or permits. The consent order suspends these sanctions.

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June 2, 2025 | In a special-called meeting, Cobb’s Board of Commissioners approved two agenda items that will form a short-term Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the county and the new City of Mableton.

“I’m grateful we were able to move forward with the service delivery agreements with Mableton,” Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said following the meeting. “We now have a framework to provide services within the city without the threat of losing our qualified local government status.”

State law requires cities that do not provide all services to their residents to have IGAs in place to ensure that the essential government services they wish to provide continue. Beginning June 1, Mableton assumed full responsibility for three services:

• Zoning and Code Enforcement
• Business Licensing and Permitting
• Waste Management

Rather than committing to a long-term arrangement, both sides agreed to a one-year agreement. This approach allows time to evaluate how the IGAs function and to work toward a longer-term solution.

The agenda items also outlined how Mableton will reimburse the county for police, road, and transportation services over the next year, with the city set to provide Cobb with $9.5 million by the end of 2026.

County officials noted during recent mediation sessions that these payments are necessary to prevent tax inequity—ensuring that residents in unincorporated Cobb and other cities are not subsidizing services provided to Mableton.

Tax digest sheets show Cobb County collected an estimated $39.6 million in property tax revenue last year from Mableton property owners. The scheduled $9.5 million payment is intended to compensate the county for revenue lost due to the incorporation of Mableton. That revenue includes sources such as the Insurance Premium Tax, Title Ad Valorem Tax, and Hotel-Motel Tax. These funds supplement the General Fund, which pays for services including police and the Department of Transportation.

Chairwoman Cupid thanked the Mableton City Council for overcoming significant challenges in a short period, especially since the Governor had not appointed a transition committee to assist in its launch. “I commend them for doing the heavy lifting, understanding that with all they had to do, it pushed us against the deadline. I also commend our staff for working with them, and together we have ensured residents will get the essential services they need.”

Because the agreement was approved after the May 31 deadline, Cobb County will petition a Superior Court judge to have sanctions stayed. Without this action, the county and its cities could lose access to certain state grants and permits.