Cobb SPLOST renewal leads 62%-38% in unofficial count; county records put Mableton's share at $97 million

Mableton stands to get about $97 million over six years if Cobb County's 1% special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) is renewed. Unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State show the renewal ahead.

As of 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, the count showed 204,842 votes for the renewal (62.0%) and 125,788 against (38.0%), out of 330,630 votes cast. The results page says the numbers are not certified and could still change. The page lists zero precincts as reported, so it does not show how much of the vote had been counted.

What it means for Mableton

Mableton gets the largest share of any Cobb city. The county's official 2028 SPLOST booklet lists the city's allocation as $97,054,953.54, out of $355,498,436.90 set aside for all the cities. Marietta is next at $78,227,427.76. Cobb's August brochure lists the same Mableton figure.

The booklet says each city's share is based on its share of the county's population, using 2021 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It also says the table is "for informational purposes only" and that actual proceeds will be disbursed "in accordance with Section 6 of the Intergovernmental Agreement" between the county and the cities.

The booklet lists Mableton's "Tier 1" projects, totaling $97 million:

• $47 million for municipal building enhancements, improvements or purchase
• $31.4 million for road improvements across the city
• $10 million for sidewalks and multi-use trails
• $4.74 million for parks and buying parkland
• $2.86 million for technology, including financial software
• $1 million for electric vehicles and charging stations

That total is about $55,000 less than the allocation. The booklet also lists a second tier of Mableton projects totaling $28 million, for parks, public EV chargers, sidewalks, technology and buildings. It does not say how that tier would be paid for.

County projects in District 4

The county's project list, which commissioners approved April 28, includes these District 4 parks projects:

• Mable House Complex renovations: $5 million
• South Cobb Aquatics renovation: $1.8 million
• Chattahoochee Riverlands Park: $3 million
• An indoor track: $5 million
• A recreation center: $18.5 million

The list also includes a $15.4 million District 4 fire station.

The tax rate and timeline

According to the county, the renewal keeps Cobb's total sales-tax rate at 6%. The current SPLOST ends Dec. 31, 2027. The new one would be collected from Jan. 1, 2028, through Dec. 31, 2033.

County documents give two different estimates of how much the tax will raise. The ballot question says an estimated $1,150,000,000, and the brochure uses the same figure. The booklet's overview puts projected collections at "$1.2 billion."

What is still unknown

Hello Mableton has not reviewed Mableton's own council-adopted project list or the intergovernmental agreement. That means we cannot say which buildings the $47 million facilities line would cover, which roads would be improved first, or how the money would be paid out. The county's webpage does not record how each commissioner voted on April 28. The results stay unofficial until the county certifies them.