The $40 Million Question last night at the Cobb County Board of Commissioners meeting was: "Why does the Board of Commissioners continue to refuse to issue Park Bond money voters approved by Referendum in 2008?"
Beautiful Land Around the Furr Property Last night past most people's normal bedtime (the meeting adjourned at midnight), more than 6 speakers eloquently spoke at the Cobb County Board of Commissioners about Park Bond 2008 Referendum funding, which has been delayed by the Board of Commissioners now for over 7 years. The Park Bond speakers mentioned the unfunded Park Bond money going directly into the New Braves stadium, the health benefits of greenspace, and the rights of future generations to experience nature.
Daniel Furr kindly shared his family's history in the Austell community from owning a grocery store, to helping feed WWII soldiers, to establishing the first fire station there. He spoke of how his parents wanted the Furr property saved, how they made it onto the Park Bond 2008 list of properties, how his parents have since passed on, and how his children want to honor their parents' wishes to preserve the land. The Furr family story set the tone for understanding our community's loss if the Park Bond is not funded now. Many of the other properties on the 2009 list have already been cleared and developed into commercial properties.
Daniel Furr kindly shared his family's history in the Austell community from owning a grocery store, to helping feed WWII soldiers, to establishing the first fire station there. He spoke of how his parents wanted the Furr property saved, how they made it onto the Park Bond 2008 list of properties, how his parents have since passed on, and how his children want to honor their parents' wishes to preserve the land. The Furr family story set the tone for understanding our community's loss if the Park Bond is not funded now. Many of the other properties on the 2009 list have already been cleared and developed into commercial properties.
2009 Property List for Unfunded Park Bond 2008 The Board's decision on Tuesday night to start a new Property List study to be completed sometime in the fall 2016 'Before Funding' Park Bond 2008 is a clearly a delay tactic, because as we know, the much touted Property List of 2009 for Park Bond 2008 was also created 'Before Funding' in 2009, and no property purchases have occurred in these last 7 years waiting for Park Bond 2008 to be funded. Cobb Voters fully expect Funding Park Bond 2008 to be the next step the Board takes.
| In 2008, voters passed a Referendum for a $40 million Park Bond, but the County decided not to fund it in 2009, and no other Board has tried to fund it until we discovered the Board decided to use the earmarked Park Bond money for another project, the Braves stadium. The County refuses to issue the $40 million Park Bond for parkland purchase, despite using an abundance of property taxes earmarked for Park Bonds now moving to fund the new stadium. |  A Property on the Park Bond 2008 List to Purchase, but No Longer available due to Cobb County's 7 year delay on Park Bond funding |
Commissions are obligated to fund Referendums like Park Bond 2008 At the January 26, 2016 meeting, the Cobb County Finance Director was directly asked by Commissioners how Park Bond 2008 could be fully funded. The Finance Director would not offer any scenarios for how to fully fund the $40 million Referendum, despite the fact the Braves are directly getting the millage promised for the Park Bond, and despite the fact it was the Board's decision not to fund the 2008 Park Bond in the first place.
The Board could easily restructure the Park Bond repayment dates going forward 7 years, given the fact that the Board has delayed funding for 7 years and counting.
Other Park Bond supporters who spoke at last night's meeting noted the Board's obligation to fully fund the 2008 Park Bond Referendum first, before spending the money on any other project. In fact, there is a straight line from Park Bond money to the New Braves Ballpark financing. According to Cobb County's own website, the $40 million Park Bond 2008 Referendum money planned for 15 years is being moved directly into the $400 million Braves stadium payment for 30 years. The one detail not disclosed on the County website page is that Park Bond 2008 has not actually been funded. Voters continue to ask Park Bond 2008 be funded as soon as possible, because the Commission is obligated to fund referendums.
The Board could easily restructure the Park Bond repayment dates going forward 7 years, given the fact that the Board has delayed funding for 7 years and counting.
Other Park Bond supporters who spoke at last night's meeting noted the Board's obligation to fully fund the 2008 Park Bond Referendum first, before spending the money on any other project. In fact, there is a straight line from Park Bond money to the New Braves Ballpark financing. According to Cobb County's own website, the $40 million Park Bond 2008 Referendum money planned for 15 years is being moved directly into the $400 million Braves stadium payment for 30 years. The one detail not disclosed on the County website page is that Park Bond 2008 has not actually been funded. Voters continue to ask Park Bond 2008 be funded as soon as possible, because the Commission is obligated to fund referendums.
Next Steps for February:
- Join the effort to email the Board of Commissioners to fully fund $40 million Park Bond (hundreds of emails sent so far in January)
- Attend Board of Commissioner meetings on Tuesday, February 9 (at 9:00am) and Tuesday, February 23 (at 7:00pm) 100 Cherokee Street, 2nd floor.
We can show support by wearing green. - Write letters to the editor at the Marietta Daily Journal: letters@mdjonline.com
- Share the LoveCobbParks.com website with friends & neighborhoods
| Feel free to email the Board of Commissioners in support of fully funding Park Bond 2008. 100s of emails have already been sent just this month. |  1 Property Saved with successfully funded 2006 Park Bond Referendum |
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