Comprehensive Annual Financial Report - Cobb County

Taking the Time to Enjoy Life in Cobb The Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department
is a collaborative effort, involving employees and volunteers, government and business, organized sports and
art groups, whose primary goal is quality leisure time. New in 2007 was the opening of the Mud Creek Soccer
Complex on Barrett Parkway. The 26-acre $4.5 million complex has five lighted soccer fields, a concession
and restroom building, a playground, abundant parking and a half-mile long concrete walking loop. Also new
in 2007 was the completion and grand openings of the renovated Cobb County Gymnastics Center and the Ron
Anderson Recreation Center. In addition, the County also issued General Obligation Bonds for $25 million in
July 2007. This is from the November 2006 approved referendum that will allow the County to issue $40
million in bond funds to purchase land that will be used specifically for public parks. The second bond for the
remaining $15 million will be issued in 2008.
Moving Forward with Water/Sewer In 2007 the $29 million Northwest Water Reclamation Facility expansion
was completed. This renovation will increase the plant treatment capacity to 12 million gallons per day which
increases the county’s total wastewater treatment capacity to 132 million gallons a day – a projection that
would meet our needs through the year 2030. Design for the South Cobb Tunnel was also completed and
construction will begin in 2008 with a projected completion date sometime in 2013.
Road to Progress Cobb County DOT oversees one of Georgia’s largest county-owned road networks. In 2007
Cobb DOT successfully completed the conversion of traffic signals countywide to new LED signal lamps,
which are 60% more efficient than traditional lamps. This project will save more than 2 million kilowatt hours
annually. Also in 2007, Cobb DOT completed the Atlanta Road at Cumberland project. This project added
triple left lanes from Atlanta Road to westbound Cumberland Parkway, thus reducing congestion. In addition,
the acquisition for the Mableton Park and Ride Lot is nearing completion and will allow for construction to
begin.
County-Owned Transit System Cobb Community Transit (CCT) continues to meet its goals of providing the
citizens of Cobb County with a safe, reliable, attractive and cost effective public transportation system. In
2007, CCT increased ridership for the fifth consecutive year to an all time high of 4.4 million trips, which
represents a 4.8% increase over FY06. In 2007 they also added more than 13,000 annual hours of service to
local bus routes, including an expansion of the paratransit service area. CCT also added a Georgia Regional
Transportation Authority bus route that provides express service from Austell and Six Flags to the MARTA
Civic Center.
Airport News Cobb County Airport-McCollum Field is one of the busiest single runway airports in Georgia
that has gradually transformed from a recreational airport to a business-class airport. In 2007 a $2.87 million
federal grant was used to rehabilitate the airport’s parallel Taxiway A and upgrade the runway safety areas by
installing a storm water drainage system and grading the shoulders.
Protection Under the Law Cobb County law enforcement services through the Sheriff’s Department and the
many Judicial Services provided by the various courts of Cobb County serve its citizens with protection under
federal, state and local laws and statutes. In 2007, the Sheriff’s Office successfully upgraded the security
monitoring and control infrastructure for the county Courthouse Complex. The system provides closed-circuit
digital video and audio monitoring and was paid for by using federal grant funds. Also in 2007, Information
Services improved access to documents, allowing departments to share information more easily with a
comprehensive document imaging solution for Juvenile Court, Magistrate Court, DOT, Water System, the
Sheriff’s department and Fire and Emergency Services. Additionally, Wi Fi Internet was made available to the
Jury Assembly room and reporting information for jurors was placed on its web page.
Relevant Financial Policies
Cobb County’s goals were developed within the framework of the Financial Policies established by the County
that provide a sound basis for future financial planning and conservative management. Briefly stated, they
include (1) a balanced annual operating budget, (2) a stable and diversified revenue structure, (3) maintenance
of adequate reserves and designations of fund balances, (4) a multi-year capital improvements program, and (5)
debt and investment policies that ensure judicious management of the County’s credit and available funds.
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