Welcome

Advance Voting begins today! I have included an election section below to help you find polling locations, sample ballots, and nonpartisan information on all of the questions at the bottom of the ballot. Since cell phone usage is not allowed inside the polling place, printing out a sample ballot and bringing it with you is a great way to help you be as efficient as possible.

I intended to make this week’s Big Story about zoning (exciting, yes?), but I want to dig deeper into the MSPLOST topic one more time. A number of you reached out to me for more details about this, which is a significant item on the ballot. Like with the elections, I’ll include nonpartisan sites for you to perform your own independent research on this.

Throughout this year’s policy discussions, I have witnessed so many reasonable conversations with the intent to understand another point of view. I am proud that our community is made up of extraordinary leaders, volunteers, and citizens who genuinely want the best for Cobb.

What’s Happening in the District 

Boo Fest!

The East Cobb Avenue will be hosting the family-friendly Boo Fest on Saturday, October 26th!

From the Avenue’s website:

Bring your little goblins and ghosts to Avenue East Cobb for a fang-tastic Halloween celebration! Join us for a mega awesome costume party, trick-or-treating, live music, roaming entertainment, pop-up experiences, and more.

Details:

• 11AM – 2PM | Trick or Treating & Activities in The Plaza

  • At check-in, grab a stroll map for trick-or-treating and collect goodies from participating retailers and restaurants around Avenue East Cobb.

  • Enjoy complimentary face painting, balloon art, crafts + more.

Performance Schedule:

• 11AM – 12PM | Mega Awesome Costume Party: Get ready to show off your costume + get silly as East Cobb Church hosts the ultimate Halloween show on the main stage.

• 12 – 1PM | The Free: Grab your Boo-gey shoes and groove to tunes by a live DJ.

• 1 – 2PM | Mega Awesome Costume Party: Couldn’t make the first show? Join us for a second chance to show off your costume + get silly as East Cobb Church hosts the ultimate Halloween show on the main stage.

The Big Story 

MSPLOST, part two

Answering one primary point of confusion: this is a proposed 1% sales tax increase, which would adjust our current 6% sales tax rate to 7%. This will not increase Cobb residents' property taxes, which contribute to the county's operational funds, but rather a sales tax paid by anyone who purchases something in Cobb.

As a reminder, the Cobb County Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (MSPLOST) aims to improve transportation infrastructure and mobility within Cobb County. The 30-year duration is designed to maximize federal funding, reducing the financial burden on Cobb County.

One item I do want to clean up is that when I mentioned road/intersection improvements in the last newsletter, I meant in direct relation to its transit proposals. All projects in this proposal are explicitly related to transit and transit-related improvements. This is what sets it apart from traditional SPLOST programs—and why this one has a much different timeline.

What’s the value of this 1%? Proponents of the measure state that this is built to improve a transit system that was not built to succeed relative to the demand from Cobb’s growing, diverse population. Increased accessibility and an improved experience would drive ridership and decrease overall traffic throughout the county. Moreover, this would move the transit budget out of the General Fund paid by Cobb residents and into the MSPLOST bucket funded by anyone who makes a purchase in Cobb that requires the collection of sales tax.

Cobb DOT’s list of projects goes beyond improved bus systems. There are also micro transit options that will help anyone needing more options to get to the often challenging last mile to a destination. Whether those destinations are a place of employment, the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment, or a visit to see a loved one, getting there safely and efficiently is important to everyone.

I’ve learned that decisions made in the county now will make impacts - good or bad - 10, 20, 30 years from now. Delays in needed infrastructure improvements will be felt in the not-too-distant future in the same way that decisions, including the decision to do nothing, are being felt right now.

BOC Meeting Recap 

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on October 8th at 9:00 AM. The meeting began with several notable presentations, including recognizing Procurement Services for receiving the 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Cobb County Police Department. Other important proclamations included designating October 13-19, 2024, as National Veterinary Technician Week, recognizing the 64th anniversary of Cobb County International Airport, and declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The consent agenda covered various topics, including approving grant funds for the District Attorney's Victim Witness Unit and several juvenile court initiatives. In addition, the Board authorized public hearings for large-scale engineering projects. It approved allocating funds for various infrastructure and community services, such as vehicle procurement for the Water System and renovations to the Vinings Library. The Board also supported public safety by approving updates to emergency response systems and plans for the COPE House Opioid Education trailer.

On the regular agenda, the Board approved the Cobb County Opioid Abatement Strategy to address the ongoing opioid crisis and manage related funds. They also approved several transportation-related projects, including drainage system repairs and change orders for major infrastructure projects like the South Barrett Reliever. In support of the parks system, funds were allocated for the Veterans Memorial Project and improvements to park entry signage. The meeting concluded with addresses from the commissioners before adjournment.

Important Dates

October 15th: Board of Commissioners Zoning Hearing

October 22nd: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting