[Note from the Cobb Parks Coalition: All Properties Chosen for Purchase in 2009 with Park Bond 2008 Have Been Re-Nominated for Purchase in 2016.]
Article in the MDJ: Final day to suggest parkland is Friday
by Ricky Leroux
April 14, 2016
Friday is the final day to nominate properties for the county to purchase using funds from bonds Cobb residents approved in 2008.
Tom Bills, senior project manager for construction for the county’s parks department, said more than 150 properties have been suggested through the county’s online nomination system over a two-month period, though some of the properties were suggested before the system was even up and running.
The properties suggested are from all parts of the county and range from 0.4 acres to “many, many tens of acres,” Bills said.
After the nomination period ends, county staff will contact the property owners to gather information and find out if they are interested in selling. Bills said that data will be presented to the county’s nine-member Recreation Board, which will probably look at the list in May, visit properties over the summer and present a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners in the fall.
Voters initially approved $40 million in bonds, but they were never issued. After property values plummeted in the late 2000s and took tax revenue with them, county officials said repaying the bonds would have required a tax increase.
The county finance director said in January that due to the language of the voter referendum, the county would only be able to issue about $19 million without a tax increase.
For more information or to nominate a property, visit cobbcounty.org and follow the links.
[To nominate a property, visit this link: https://cobbcounty.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4433:nominate-potential-park-properties-for-bond-program&catid=282&Itemid=353]
by Ricky Leroux
April 14, 2016
Friday is the final day to nominate properties for the county to purchase using funds from bonds Cobb residents approved in 2008.
Tom Bills, senior project manager for construction for the county’s parks department, said more than 150 properties have been suggested through the county’s online nomination system over a two-month period, though some of the properties were suggested before the system was even up and running.
The properties suggested are from all parts of the county and range from 0.4 acres to “many, many tens of acres,” Bills said.
After the nomination period ends, county staff will contact the property owners to gather information and find out if they are interested in selling. Bills said that data will be presented to the county’s nine-member Recreation Board, which will probably look at the list in May, visit properties over the summer and present a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners in the fall.
Voters initially approved $40 million in bonds, but they were never issued. After property values plummeted in the late 2000s and took tax revenue with them, county officials said repaying the bonds would have required a tax increase.
The county finance director said in January that due to the language of the voter referendum, the county would only be able to issue about $19 million without a tax increase.
For more information or to nominate a property, visit cobbcounty.org and follow the links.
[To nominate a property, visit this link: https://cobbcounty.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4433:nominate-potential-park-properties-for-bond-program&catid=282&Itemid=353]