Cobb announces record high tax digest amid budget troubles

Stephen White, the director and chief appraiser for the Cobb County Tax Assessor s office, qualified for an exemption from county school taxes after his father moved in with him and White added him to his property deed. JOHNNY CRAWFORD / FOR THE AJC

Stephen White, the director and chief appraiser for the Cobb County Tax Assessor s office, qualified for an exemption from county school taxes after his father moved in with him and White added him to his property deed. JOHNNY CRAWFORD / FOR THE AJC

Cobb County announced a record high tax digest of $36.7 billion Thursday, a nine percent increase over last year.

The announcement comes as Cobb faces a minimum $30 million shortfall in its 2019 budget.

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Commission Chairman Mike Boyce is making a public push for a millage rate increase to cover the gap, arguing that the floating homestead exemption means the county general fund will not benefit enough from rising property values.

Boyce is holding a series of town hall meetings on the budget and millage rate. The next one is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at the South Cobb Community Center.