Smyrna-Vinings News You Can Use

A notice on the Cobb County website announces what once would have been shocking news: “The Cobb County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes.” (Click on “Notice of Tax Increase.”)

It’s actually three increases, in the general, fire and debt-service funds, raising the overall property tax rate from 9.6 to 11.21 mills. But the announcement is a bit confusing because it addresses the increases from the maximum rates now allowed, not the actual rates.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Marietta Daily Journal have reported that the proposed increase would add about $111 to the tax bill of a house with a fair-market value of $200,000, but our math points to the total being about $120, which probably says something about journalists and math. We’ll all get the complete story next Tuesday when the board holds public hearings on the proposal at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 100 Cherokee St. The commissioners will adopt the millage rate July 26 at 7 p.m.

Moving on, congratulations to Bill Voegeli, who was recently named Citizen of the Year Award from the Rotary Club of Vinings.

The Northside Neighbor has a nice story on Voegeli, who serves as president of the Vinings Homeowners Association and was also instrumental on the formation of Vinings 8, which coordinates the work of the community’s civic clubs.

The award is given each year to a non-Rotarian the club feels exemplifies the Rotary’s mission of service above self.

Don’t forget that Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon will deliver the State of the City address Thursday at the Smyrna Business Association and Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon at the .

The registration deadline for the event expired Tuesday, but don’t worry as Smyrna-Vinings Patch will provide both a preview and coverage of this anticipated annual event.

Also Thursday, a “Fall Prevention Education & Risk Assessment Screening’’ will take place at . According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, one of every three people 65 years and older fall each year.

Older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from other causes, and many who fall, suffer moderate to severe injuries that reduce mobility and independence, and increase the risk of premature death.

Physical Therapists from PT Solutions will provide education regarding fall prevention including home set up, conditioning program, etc. They will also provide a free screening with shoe assessment, strength assessment, stability awareness and balance assessment, so you can find out if you are at risk and what you can do to prevent a fall. 

Finally, in June for the third straight month, Smyrna issued the most new home construction permits among Cobb County cities. Unincorporated Cobb paced the county with 30 permits, followed by Smyrna with 19 and then Marietta (11) and Kennesaw (nine), while the cities of Acworth, Austell and Powder Springs did not issue any permits last month.

- Patch Editor Wendy Parker contributed to this story.