Politics & Government

No Furlough Days or Layoffs in 2012

The Cobb County commissioners were presented with the 2012 proposed budget Tuesday afternoon.

Cobb County's proposed fiscal 2012 budget doesn't include any furlough days for the county's 4,200 employees.

Since May 1, county employees have been forced to take five unpaid days off to help balance the current year's budget.

The proposed budget also doesn't include any layoffs, but it does include some fee increases and service reductions, plus other cost-saving measures.

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Library hours have been cut as well as hours at the aquatic center, said Robert Quigley, county spokesman. In personnel, 66 unfilled positions will be eliminated. The county is also looking to privatize the Cobblestone Golf Course.

proposed general fund budget for fiscal 2012, which starts Oct. 1, is expected to be about $4 million more than the current $317 million budget that was revised in April, the county’s finance director told commissioners Tuesday afternoon.

Find out what's happening in Acworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, the $321.7 million proposal is $6.3 million less than the $328 million 2011 budget originally adopted last year. Commissioners had to implement five furlough days and other budget cuts in April to close a $27 million budget gap.

The commissioners voted 3-2 last month in favor of raising taxes to make up a possible $33 million deficit in the 2012 fiscal year.

"It gives us some breathing room," said Jim Pehrson, finance director.

The county raised the rate from a total of 9.6 mills to 11.11 mills for the year that ends Sept. 30. Tax bills went out in mid-August.

On a $140,000 to $160,000 house, the increase averages $82.67 more per year. On a $190,000 to $210,000 home, the increase averages $111.66 per year.

Property taxes make up 58 percent of the county's general fund. With the tax increase, the county is able now to fill some public safety positions that were frozen, Pehrson said, as well as additional monies for vehicle aquisitions.

The total proposed budget for next year is $723 million. The adopted budget for the current year was $720.6 million.

There will be a public hearing on the proposed budget at 2 p.m. Aug. 31. A vote will be taken on Sept. 13, at 9 a.m.


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