Ott's Town Hall In Smyrna Next Week

For the second time in as many weeks, Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott will host a town-hall meeting to discuss the county’s budget shortfall of more than $31 million in the current fiscal year.

Wednesday’s 7 p.m. meeting at the will present a prime opportunity for citizens to have their opinions heard. Close to an Ott’s town-hall meeting this past Tuesday at in East Cobb.

Falling estimates of property tax collections have increased the projected deficit this year from $28 million to $30 million in January to $31.6 million at the end of February. And Commission Chairman Tim Lee said real estate values are expected to fall an additional 8 percent to 10 percent per year through fiscal 2013.

Ott, whose District 2 represents roughly Smyrna and East Cobb below Roswell Road, and the  have previously said they won’t be raising property taxes.

Recommendations for closing the gap include employee furlough days, reducing bus service, cutting hours at senior centers and libraries, selling properties and reducing money for nonprofit organizations.

"No to a tax increase, and I still stand by that,’’ Ott said Tuesday. “We cannot go to you, our boss, and ask for a raise because we're spending too much money."

Ott touched upon a wide variety of budget issues on Tuesday, adding, "We're not just looking at this year's budget but next year's. The tax digest could drop another 6 to 8 percent.’’

On budget-related changes at the courts: "Nothing should be off the table. There can be no sacred cows.’’ He also added said that he knew what it’s like to “lose a pension’’ and that he will work “really hard to make sure that doesn’t happen to our employees.’’

Of course, citizens had their say, too. One individual recommended a forensic audit to find "waste, fraud and abuse" and to make an attempt to "look after our money."

And then there was this public comment post at Patch this week by “Vinings Resident’’ that read, “Everyone's property taxes decreased with the reassessments over the past three years. Mine went down over $500 last year. I will gladly pay a one-mill $90 a year increase to keep libraries open, ensure proper fire and police response time (thereby maintaining our current insurance rating) and keep county employees (the best, most customer service oriented public employees I have ever encountered) from furloughs (which are most definitely salary cuts).’’

Among those present at this week’s meeting were ex-Congressman Bob Barr and ex-Commissioner Thea Powell, Ott’s appointments to the new Citizens Oversight Committee for county finances.

The commissioners are scheduled to present more recommendations and vote on a revised budget on April 12.

- East Cobb Patch Editor Wendy Parker contributed to this story.