Coalition pushing for parks referendum

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA - The Cobb Parks Coalition wants to make sure the Cobb Board of Commissioners are thinking green today when the Commissioners vote on adding a $40 million parks bond referendum to the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

Coalition leader Paul Paulson said his group is encouraging all parks supporters to wear green to tonight's Commission meeting. It begins at 7 p.m. in the board meeting room, 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta.

"It's nice for the commissioners to see people come and show their support," Paulson said. "This is a grassroots effort, and we're willing to go to war to campaign for this to pass."

Paulson said he is confident that the commission will unanimously approve the parks bond referendum.

Chairman Sam Olens said he could not speak for the other commissioners, but that he has only heard "positive statements" about approving a parks bond.

County officials say the parks bond would not require a tax increase. The county would pay for the 15-year, $40 million parks bond by diverting revenue raised from .1 mills of property taxes from the fire fund to the debt fund. Cobb's total millage is 9.6 mills, meaning property owners pay $9.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Currently, 6.82 mills go to the county's general fund; 2.56 mills to the fire fund; and 0.22 mills to debt-service. Officials said the fire fund has a surplus.

The Commissioners would appoint a three-member [per Commissioner] citizens committee to suggest which properties to purchase.

The Commission is also expected to vote on seeking bids for a master plan to govern recreational developments on the Bullard/Stockton property.

Paulson said he is encouraged the Commission is moving to make that land, on Dallas Highway at Old Hamilton Road in west Cobb, a useable park.

The county purchased the 112-acre tract earlier this year, using $18.6 million of the original $40 million parks bond. About 70 percent of the voters approved that bond in 2006.

The parks bond was only used to acquire property, and there is not money in the bonds to develop the parks. If the second parks bond is approved, it will also be for acquisition.

Olens said the west Cobb property "seemed an appropriate place to start" when developing a master plan to take effect when money becomes available.

"The Bullard/Stockton property is clearly on people's mind in west Cobb," he said.

(The article goes on to other topics.)

ahungerford@mdjonline.com