Tim Lee's Master Plan for Cobb County Public Libraries

Proposed Cobb budget plan would close most libraries, slightly increase taxes. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/8/2011)

Excerpt:     A plan by Cobb County’s Commission chairman would include a tax increase, close all but four of the county’s libraries and require across the board cuts in county departments to close a $31. 5 million budget gap.

Chairman Tim Lee’s plan includes a millage rate increase for the fire fund, which would move the county’s overall rate from 9.6 to 10.1. The .5 mill fire-fund increase would equal an additional $40 in taxes on a $200,000 house.

The plan also calls for all county departments to cut their budgets by 3.5 percent, for a $9 million savings. Another $2.6 million would be saved by closing two pools, two senior centers and most of the county’s libraries. Only the four regional branches — Central, Mountain View, South Cobb and West Cobb libraries — would remain open.

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a mid-year, revised budget plan on Tuesday. The changes will take effect May 1.

Lee had not heard back from all commissioners on Friday and didn’t know if he had enough votes to pass his proposal.

Related article:
Cobb County Public Library Systems raises fines, cuts hours.  (10/3/2010)