Cobb County, Georgia
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Cobb County is one of 159 counties in Georgia. Its county seat is Marietta. As of the 2000 census, the population was 607,751. The 2009 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau was 714,692 people.[1] The county is part of the original and core (five-county) Atlanta metropolitan area, which is included in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta, Georgia metropolitan statistical area.
The U.S. Census Bureau ranks Cobb County as the most-educated in the state of Georgia and 12th among all counties in the United States.[2] It has ranked among top wealthiest counties in the United States.[3]
[edit] Evaluation of website
This website was most recently reviewed Feb. 20, 2012.
[edit] The good
- Budgets are posted[4].
- Meeting agendas and minutes are posted[5].
- Contact information for the County Commissioners is available[6].
- The various Administrators and their contacts are listed under each department.[7]
- Building permits [8] and zoning information is available[9].
- Audits are posted in the annual reports.[10]
- A list of vendors and how to place a contract bid is posted on the site.[11] There is also a list of those that have applied for the bid and those that were awarded the bid. In addition this county also telecasts contracts so that nationwide companies can bid for them.
- Post how to file a FOIA request.[12]
- An application for requesting public records is available, but it is hard to find[13].
- Property tax information is available[14].
- The county discloses membership to organization that participate in taxpayer-funded lobbying.[15]
[edit] Budget
The fiscal year 2011 adopted budget is $720,662,814, which is a $1,302,832 decrease from FY2010 and amounts to less than a percent. The proposed FY2012 budget is $738,057,998 which is a $17,395,184 (2.4%) increase.[16]
[edit] Elected Officials
[edit] County Commission
Cobb County operates under the commission-county manager form of government. This system combines the policy leadership of elected officials with the administrative abilities of a county manager.
The commission meets in regular session twice a month on the second Tuesday (9 a.m.) and the fourth Tuesday (7 p.m.). Commission Zoning Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (9 a.m.). Current commissioners are:[6]
| Name | District | First Elected | Party | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lee | Chairman | 2002, elected chairman in 2010 | Republican | unknown |
| Helen Goreham | District 1 | 2002 | Republican | unknown |
| Bob Ott | District 2 | 2010 | Republican | unknown |
| Jo Ann Birrell | District 3 | 2010 | Republican | unknown |
| Woody Thompson | District 4 | 1997 | Democrat (switched parties in 2006) | unknown |
[edit] Administrative Officials
[edit] County Manager
Cobb County operates under the commission-county manager form of government. This system combines the policy leadership of elected officials with the administrative abilities of a county manager.
David Hankerson has been County Manager since 1993.[17]
[edit] Salaries
[edit] Pensions
According to Cobb County's Human Resources Department, the Cobb County pension plan was updated in 2010 and is now set up as follows:
Effective January 1, 2010, all new employees will automatically be enrolled in the New Hybrid Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Plan. The Plan has two components: a Defined Benefit component and a Defined Contribution component. The Defined Benefit component is mandatory and the contribution amount is determined by the County. The employee's pre-tax contribution is a percentage of the employee's gross pay. The employee’s Contribution Rate is currently 5% and should not increase over time, although this can't be guaranteed. The Defined Contribution component is voluntary. In addition to the 5% mandatory contribution of their salary to the Defined Benefit Plan, employees may also decide to contribute a portion of their salary each year into the Defined Contribution Plan up to the maximum amount permitted by the IRS. The County will make a 50% matching contribution up to 2%.[18]
[edit] Emergency personnel
The Cobb County Sheriff's Office is the only emergency service arm of the county. Currently, it is overseen by Sheriff Neil Warren and Chief Deputy Sheriff Lynda Coker.
[edit] Lobbying
Cobb County participates in the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). The ACCG engages in lobbying the Georgia state legislature.[19]. Cobb County is also a member of the National Association of Counties, a national taxpayer-funded lobbying organization.
According to OpenSecrets.org, Cobb County spent $30,000 on a lobbying contract with Holland and Knight in 2011. OpenSecrets.org reports that DeKalb County lobbied the federal government on the following issues in 2011: FY2011 appropriations for transportation, public safety, homeland security and housing.[20]
[edit] Transparency & public records
In 2011 Cobb County earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.
[edit] Taxes
On May 16, 2011, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Cobb County commission chairman Tim Lee was being criticized by Superior Court Clerk Jay Stephenson for refusing to raise millage (property) tax rates to solve a budget problem in the county.[21] Chairman Lee had informed county administrators that the previously adopted 10 percent budget reductions would carry over into FY2012, which begins in October. Stephenson responded that he would seek to have the chairman removed from office if Lee or anyone on his behalf contacted the clerk’s office about budget-cutting issues.
[edit] External links
- Cobb County website
- Cobb County Assessor
- Cobb County on E-Reference
- Cobb County School District
- Cobb County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Cobb County on Georgia.gov
- Cobb County on Epodunk
[edit] References
- ↑ 2009 census
- ↑ Ranking Table - Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed a Bachelor's Degree
- ↑ How 100 counties ranked in wealth
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Meeting
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Commissioners
- ↑ County Clerk
- ↑ Permits
- ↑ Development
- ↑ Audits (under CAFR report)
- ↑ Purchasing department
- ↑ Public Records
- ↑ Public records
- ↑ Taxes
- ↑ Lobbying
- ↑ FY2011 budget
- ↑ county manager
- ↑ 2011 Summary of Benefits
- ↑ ACCG Legislative Advocacy Information
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org
- ↑ AJC, May 16, 2011, Feud Erupts Between Cobb Officials
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