The two remaining furloughs are Aug. 5 and Sept. 2.
Chairman Tim Lee said using the tax increase to eliminate the two remaining furlough days, which were implemented in April as part of a budget cutting measure, was never a guarantee, although his original millage increase proposal included that plan.
“Everything is a proposal until it gets voted on,” Lee said.
Earlier in July, Lee proposed increasing the millage rate to 11.21 mills, with a 1 mill increase for the general fund. But on Tuesday night, commissioners approved a millage rate of 11.11 with only a 0.9 increase to the general fund.
“We didn’t implement the full mill increase because we decided we just needed to keep moving forward with cost cutting measures put in place,” he said.
Even though eliminating furloughs was on the original proposal, employees were never officially told by the county that the furloughs would be eliminated, Lee said.
Lee added the fact some employees have already taken five furlough days while others will be furloughed on the upcoming scheduled days was a “part of the equation,” but not a deciding factor.
“The idea to propose a lower millage increase for the general fund and keeping the remaining furlough days came about independently,” he said. “One did not lead the other.”
Commissioners approved five furlough days in April as part of a measure to help fill a projected $27 million hole for fiscal 2011. It was the first time in county history that employees were furloughed.
Most all departments under the county manager’s office were required to close on the scheduled dates and employees were not paid for those days. The days were distributed so that they did not fall during the same pay cycle.
Public Safety officials coordinated their own furloughs while the Superior Court Clerk and Sherriff’s offices were allowed to implement the furloughs or cuts as they saw fit.
Commissioners participate in the cuts and furloughs as well, Commissioner Helen Goreham pointed out at Tuesday’s meeting.
“We took a 10 percent cut to our department, gave back our mileage and took furloughs,” she said.
Follow us on Twitter!
hybrid plan is 5% deduction taken from all eligible earnings (excluding overtime)
on a pre-tax basis for the purposes of making contributions. you can also participate in the Defined Contribution component. this additional
pre-tax contribution will be deposited into a 457 account and Cobb County will make a 50%
matching contribution, up to 2%, which will be deposited into a 401a account.
in addition to the mandatory plan , I invest my tax return into my own IRA plan. Maybe you should worry about yourself and less about us.
Great comment.
When that kid has a gun pointed in the face of a family member and pulls the trigger, then maybe putting wallets and narcissism won't look so appealing.
Since we have it so well (90 percent?!?!?!....yeah, ok), applications are available at the Cobb County Website. But remember, it will be a government sector job, not a private one (i.e. lower pay for better benefits).
The even better news is that if you actually get hired, the MDJ won't have to buy additional web server storage for, nor will we all have to painstakingly look at, all your ridiculous posts.
Cobb should have a 401k set up for employee retirement...not a 401k like set up (whatever that is). Cobb taxpayers should not be on the hook for Cobb government employee retirements...PERIOD. Look at the mess Atlanta is in because their leadership was so corrupt several years ago an now the new Mayor Reed has to try to clean it up...all the while, their city employees scream because he is trying to correct things...what a rip off they have. Cobb should only match the first 5 percent of what an employee puts in which is what private sector companies do...but no...Cobb puts in about 90 percent which is a big fat ripoff of the county taxpayer....and still cobb employees want the taxpayer to pay more...well most of us hard working taxpayers are sick of it and will let the BOC know it come election day.
Tea Party - check
home owners -check
cobb employees - check
Other than the private landscape contractors, who has Tim Lee not driven away from his name on a ballot? I honestly think that Mickey Mouse has a good chance of being our next chairman.
Just where are all these government workers exodusing to? Another job? Really?
the new retirement plan is a 401k genius
In the other meetings it seems as though the only thing that people cared about was libraries and feral cats that are held at the pound. The seniors were left to rot , because the people in charge of those centers were not proactive they were reactive. Some of you all should be ashamed at yourselves for pissing and moaning during these meetings that you cannot afford the millage increase. If some of you would live within or below your means, then it would be very affordable. Designer coffees and designer clothes can take a back seat. If you want future generations to have a chance in life , then we need parks, swim centers and places where they can go. If not then you might as well give troubled kids a handgun and the attitude to match.
I have eight furlough days this year myself, so why not put them in place for good!
Told you that Lee was lobbying employees to encourage the tax increase - they did and blogged and wrote and talked to their neighbors.
HAHAHAH - I told you he was lying and you all drank the koolaid
I find it funny
================================================
I guess I missed that email, phone call, memo, fax or carrier pigeon that told me what to do.
Wonder how on EARTH I thought about emailing my commissioner, talking to my neighbors and blogging all on my own little initiative. Guess I was just lucky!!
Ummmm... didn't the anti-millage supporters have the same rights to take the same actions?
What a moronic comment.