Cobb Residents Brace for ‘Rain Tax’ Debate as County Launches Stormwater Fee Hearings

By Shelia Edwards | Community Perspective

MARIETTA, Ga. — Cobb County residents are gearing up for what could be another heated debate at this week’s public hearing as the Board of Commissioners considers a controversial stormwater fee many are calling a “rain tax.”

The county’s proposal — a flat $4.75 monthly charge for residential customers and the same rate per 3,700 square feet of impervious surface for businesses and institutions — has reignited frustration among homeowners still skeptical after last year’s failed attempt to push through a similar measure.

For many residents, especially in unincorporated Cobb and the newly formed City of Mableton, the fee represents another rising cost during a time of inflation and uncertainty. “We’re already paying more for groceries, gas, and utilities,” said Lance Lamberson, chair of the Cobb Taxpayer Association. “Now the county wants to charge us for the rain that falls on our property — it’s unreasonable and unfair.”

Distrust in County Leadership
Critics question how the county manages existing funds. Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who represents East Cobb, has consistently opposed the additional fee, citing Cobb’s practice of transferring millions in water department revenues into the general fund. “Before asking taxpayers for more money, the county should fix its budgeting priorities,” Birrell said.

According to county documents, $11 million was transferred from the water department to the general fund in the current fiscal year, while only $300,000 of that came from stormwater revenue. Despite spending more than $9 million annually on stormwater services, the new fee would raise an estimated $17 million each year — a gap that has residents asking where the money will actually go.

Residents Still Waiting for Flood Relief
Cobb Water System Director Judy Jones argue it’s essential to fund long-overdue infrastructure improvements to prevent flooding and replace aging pipes. But for residents who have endured repeated flooding — promises of better drainage sound familiar and hollow.

“These same problems existed before the 2021 floods,” said one Cobb homeowner who spent thousands in out-of-pocket repairs. “We were told the county didn’t have the funds back then. Now they do, but it’s coming out of our pockets again.”

A Growing Divide — and Political Warning
While county officials frame the proposal as necessary maintenance, many residents view it as another sign of Cobb’s growing disconnect with taxpayers. They question whether the Board of Commissioners, led by Chair Lisa Cupid, is listening to citizens’ concerns or simply pushing another revenue measure through under the guise of infrastructure improvement.

“The county needs to build trust before it builds new fees,” said John Loud, a community advocate and business owner. “People aren’t against fixing infrastructure — they’re against being misled about where their money goes.”

Some anti-tax advocates warn that the political consequences could mirror what recently happened at the state level. “PSC members got turned out of office after years of rate hikes and broken promises — the same should happen to these commissioners if they keep voting to raise costs on working families,” one activist said.

Next Steps
The first public hearing will take place Wednesday, November 12 at 9 a.m. in the Cobb County Government Building, followed by a second hearing on November 20, when commissioners are expected to vote. Citizens can attend in person or watch online.

As Cobb leaders prepare to defend the proposal, residents say they’ll be there — not just to question the fee, but to demand transparency and fiscal accountability. “We all want clean water and safe neighborhoods,” Lamberson added. “But trust has to come first — and that’s what’s in short supply in Cobb County right now.”