The 2024 Cobb County Annual Report is now available. It gives insight into the progress made for the public by county government, its agencies and projects. There are comparisons of budget and millage rates with other metro counties, a breakdown of tax uses, and explanations of new programs that will benefit residents.

Go online here to read about the year in Cobb.

Volunteers and staff are preparing the Cobb County Civic Center for the Spring Book Sale to be held this weekend March 7 - 9. Thousands of items for sale include books for all ages in both hardcover and paperback, DVDs, books on CD and audiocassette, magazines, and puzzles. Prices range from 10 cents to $4.

Hours for the sale are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday then 1 - 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free. Cash, checks and credit cards (Visa and MasterCard only) are accepted as payment. The Civic Center is located at 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta.

Electronic (scanning) devices are prohibited until after 1 p.m. Friday. The event will only sell up to two boxes of items at a time on Friday until 1 p.m. Plan to pay and take items to your vehicle before coming in to shop some more.

On Sunday, March 9, it is BYOB (Bring Your Own Box) Day. Fill any size box that you can physically take to your vehicle for a flat rate -- $10 upper level only; $20 lower level only; $20 mixed. All profits from this book sale go directly to buying more items for Cobb County Public Library’s 15 branches and bookmobile. For more information, visit the library web site.

Advance voting for the District 2 Special Democratic Primary Runoff Election will be held March 3 - 7. On Election Day, March 11, voters must go to their assigned polling location.

The District 2 Democratic Primary contest will be held between candidates Erick Allen and Jaha V. Howard. District 2 Republican candidate Alicia Adams was unopposed. There will be no voting March 8 - 10.

Go here for advance voting locations and more information or call 770-528-2581. The General Special Election for commission Districts 2 and 4 will be held on April 29.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health will hold an HIV/Outreach event 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the HOPE Family Resource Center in Mableton. The event, honoring International Women's Day, will offer free COVID and flu vaccines, free HIV testing and HIV prevention resources, as well as breast and cervical cancer program resources.

The HOPE Family Resource Center is located at 6108 Mableton Parkway, Mableton. The event is a partnership with First Christian Church and the HOPE Family Resource Center. Go here for more information.

Daylight Savings Time begins the morning of Sunday, March 9. Residents should make sure their clocks that require setting are turned an hour ahead before going to bed Saturday night.

The public should also use this weekend to replace the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These safety measures won't protect your family if they can't sound the alarm.

If you need help with your smoke detectors and are a Cobb County resident, call 770-852-3270. This is a free service to ensure your home is protected in case of a fire.

The Cobb County Juvenile Court is seeking additional volunteers for its Court Appointed Special Advocate program.

CASA volunteers play a vital role in supporting neglected or abused children who are removed from their homes and placed in foster care. As a volunteer, you’ll advocate for the child, interact with their families, therapists, and teachers, and provide recommendations to the court. The ultimate goal is to help reunite children with their families when possible or place them in a permanent, loving home.

The CASA program is always in need of dedicated volunteers. The deadline to apply for the upcoming training session is Monday, March 10. Apply for the program online here.

Learn more about the program here.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted last week to opt out of the House Bill 581 Statewide Adjusted Base Homestead Exemption, which was approved by voters in the November 2024 election.

Cobb County’s existing floating homestead exemption — implemented decades ago — provides greater tax relief to homeowners by protecting against rising home values. The exemption freezes a homeowner’s taxable property value when they apply for it, ensuring that their tax burden does not increase as property values rise.

The 4-0 vote to opt out followed the third and final public hearing during Tuesday night’s meeting, where a majority of participants urged commissioners to vote to opt out of the measure. Although the amendment passed with 59% of the vote in Cobb County, many speakers admitted they were confused by the ballot language and struggled to discern the amendment’s long-term impact.

The deadline for Cobb County homeowners to apply for a homestead exemption is April 1 to receive the exemption for that tax year. Applications must be received or USPS postmarked by Tuesday, April 1, to be accepted for the 2025 tax year. Go online here for more details.

Cobb County is conducting a focused study of the Factory Shoals Road and Interstate 20 area to better understand mobility and pedestrian safety needs, especially for crossing I-20 and travelling within the surrounding area along Factory Shoals Road. The study aims to develop equitable transportation access and improve safety for all travelers.

The final community open house will be 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the South Cobb Community Center, 620 Lions Club Drive, Mableton. Go here for more information.

Are you a caregiver in need of relief? Cobb County Senior Services can help. Its Respite Care program provides temporary relief to caregivers caring for loved ones diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions, have physical or intellectual disabilities, or require assistance with at least three activities of daily living. Find out more about how you can qualify by calling 770-528-5364.

The Tim D. Lee Senior Center will also host a three-part community series to help seniors and adult children navigate the aging process 7 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. Wellstar’s coordinator of Advanced Care Planning will talk about advance directives -- legal documents that can help make your treatment wishes known. Discussion will also include choosing a healthcare agent (decision maker) and creating a living will. Go here for more information and to register.

District 1 Commissioner Keli Gambrill will hold a town hall, 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs.  

The event will feature an interactive Q&A session centered on issues brought up by the public. Email your topic suggestions, questions, or feedback to myvoice@cobbcounty.org.

Farm-fresh Vidalia onions are back. The Cobb County UGA Extension is now accepting pre-orders for their annual Vidalia onion sale. Order your 10-pound bags of medium-sized onions for just $12 by 5 p.m. April 9.

You can also donate a bag to the St. Vincent De Paul Society Food Pantry.

Onions arrive the week of Mother’s Day and pick-up will be available immediately upon arrival. Final pick-up date is 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 17. Download your pre-order form here.

Cobb County has partnered with FindHelp to create a new online resource that connects residents with local, vetted assistance programs. On the site, you can search for free or reduced-cost services like medical care, food, job training, and more. Residents can access this new portal by visiting findhelp.cobbcounty.gov. The initiative is funded through an allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act. 

Subscribe to CobbTV's YouTube channel for the latest county meetings, informational videos, and live events.

Did you know nearly 500 children in Cobb County are in foster care? You can make a difference in a child's life by joining the Cobb Juvenile Court's CASA Program. CASA volunteers advocate for the children by meeting with their families, teachers, therapists, and doctors.

Cobb's Fleet Management wrapped up Black History Month in February by recognizing some of the important figures in black history during its annual recognition. Check out the figures the staff chose to highlight and learn about their impact on history.