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Welcome

We're in the second half of 2025, Cobb County! We've traded fireworks for back-to-school anxiety and hot car seats. But the real heat is at the county offices: budgets are brewing, roads are rumbling, and the next big vote is already knocking. Take ninety seconds to learn more now, and you'll be the most interesting person at work later.

In this issue, you'll find out how one volunteer shift can change a life right here in Cobb, snag the details on a free Billy‑Joel‑tribute night on the Square (just a BYO picnic blanket), and learn why a single penny could decide whether your commute feels like Georgia asphalt or a lunar surface.

As always, thanks for giving this newsletter a piece of your morning. Grab your coffee, settle in, and happy scrolling.

What’s Happening in the District 

Bill Joel Tribute Band on the Square!

The next installment of Marietta’s free Glover Park Concert Series lands on Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m., when The Stranger brings its nationally known Billy Joel tribute to the Square. Grab a spot on the lawn anytime after the park opens. The show itself runs approximately 90 minutes and is part of a six-date lineup scheduled on the last Friday of each month through September.

Pack light: blankets and lawn chairs are welcome inside the park, but tents, tarps, and personal tables are not. If you’d like guaranteed seating, a limited number of round tables (six seats for $75, eight seats for $85) go on sale at 8 a.m. on the first business day of the month and typically sell out quickly. Street‑side table options are also available behind the stage. Marietta Parks and Recreation handles all reservations.

Plan to arrive early if you need parking. Chairs and coolers can be set up on North and East Park Square after 6 p.m., and free street parking or deck parking at City Hall becomes available after 5 p.m. For additional questions, call 770‑794‑5601 or check the city’s concert series page before you head out

Community Spotlight 

LiveSafe Resources

Mission & Local Roots
Based just off Marietta Square, LiveSafe Resources is Cobb County's primary agency for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Its stated mission is "to provide safety and healing with dignity and respect to survivors, giving them a voice and hope for a better future." Beyond the shelter walls, the nonprofit partners with the Cobb Judicial Circuit, public safety agencies, and local schools to ensure a seamless safety net for families across all of Cobb's cities and unincorporated areas of the county.

Ways to Lend a Hand
The organization relies on more than 300 trained volunteers each year. Current needs range from front desk greeters (weekdays, Marietta campus) and court advocacy aides (Cobb Superior Court) to on-call sexual assault exam companions and volunteers for the Wednesday night children's program. Flexible roles, such as administrative projects, shelter supply drives, and elder abuse visitation, can accommodate group or weekend schedules. Prospective volunteers begin with an online application and onboarding packet; questions should be directed to Volunteer Coordinator Ayesha Parks at [email protected].

Save the Date: "A Fashion Affair," Sept 16
Grab your most stylish neighbors and head to The Foxglove (54 Atlanta St., Marietta) on Tuesday, September 16, 6‑8 p.m. for A Fashion Affair, a runway show featuring fall collections from local boutiques, pop‑up shopping, hors d'oeuvres, and a full bar. Tickets and sponsorships support LiveSafe's emergency shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy programs; doors open at 5:30 p.m. so you can browse the boutique vendors before the models hit the catwalk.

The Big Story 

SPLOST Renewal: Cobb’s Most Important Penny

For three decades, Cobb’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) has quietly paid for many of the amenities we now take for granted - from East Cobb Park’s shaded trails to the roads that lead us to our next destination. The current six‑year cycle, approved by voters in 2020, will expire on December 31, 2027, and county and city leaders officially launched the renewal process on June 27. Over the coming months, they’ll draft a fresh project list and decide whether the penny‑on‑the‑dollar sales tax should continue into 2028 and beyond.

Why does this matter? That single cent adds up to roughly $1 billion every six years, money that can only be spent on capital projects, such as roads, bridges, police precincts, libraries, senior centers, parks, and more. Since 2016 alone, SPLOST funds have resurfaced more than 400 miles of roadway, connected 50 miles of multi‑use trail, and rebuilt three police precincts. All without dipping into property tax revenues or the county’s operating budget.

Now the big questions begin: Which projects deserve top priority, should the county issue bonds to accelerate construction, and how will each of Cobb’s six cities share the pot? Public input sessions and town hall meetings will kick off this fall, allowing residents to propose ideas and review the draft list before commissioners vote to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot. Watch this space for key dates and start thinking about the infrastructure investments that would improve life on your street. Your voice will help decide how the next billion is invested.

BOC Meeting Recap 

The Board of Commissioners convened its regular meeting on July 8th. It opened with two recognitions: the presentation of the 2025 Martha Logue Excellence in Leadership Award and a proclamation declaring July as Park and Recreation Month in Cobb County. Commissioners then held the first public hearings on both the proposed 2025 property tax increase and the FY 2026 budget, giving residents an early look at the county’s fiscal roadmap and tax implications.

On the consent agenda, the board approved a broad slate of operational items. Highlights included carry‑forward funding for new District Attorney vehicles, a grant‑funded replacement of two CobbLinc support vehicles, authorization to pursue grants for a countywide Freight Cluster Plan, and a low‑ or no‑emission autonomous circulator in Cumberland. Commissioners also green‑lit the purchase of mobile data computers for the Sheriff’s Office, a countywide human‑resources information‑system contract, an annexation notice with stipulations for 21 acres off C H James Parkway, and a contract to develop a new Economic Development Strategic Plan. Budget housekeeping rounded out the list, encompassing amendments, pension plan tweaks, and acceptance of federal block grant allocations.

The regular agenda focused on infrastructure. Contracts were awarded for drainage repairs on Aspen Wood Court and Stoneywood Circle, traffic‑signal pole replacements at 11 sites, and preliminary engineering on the Big Shanty Road widening and George Busbee Parkway trail in partnership with GDOT and the Town Center CID. The board also approved a five‑year network modernization contract with Lumen Technologies. Before adjourning, commissioners announced four appointments: Shelly Corgel to Keep Cobb Beautiful, Milton Dortch’s return to the Airport Advisory Board, John Jackson to the Transit System Advisory Board, and Tracy Stevenson to the SPLOST Citizens’ Oversight Committee.

Important Dates

July 15th: Board of Commissioners Zoning Hearing

June 15th: Election Day: Public Service Commissioner Primary Runoff (statewide)

June 16th: Special Called BOC Meeting - Public Hearing for Budget & Millage

June 17th: All-In-Cobb Budget Town Hall

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