Residents Protest to Save Cobb Libraries

Monday afternoon, Cobb residents participated in a silent protest at Marietta Square to send a message loud and clear: "Save our libraries."

Amidst the , 13 of 17 libraries are on the chopping block, including the . The libraries could close indefinitely beginning May 1, with only the Central, Mountain View, South Cobb, and West Cobb Libraries remaining open.

County leaders are searching for ways to make up a budget shortfall of more than $31 million. Many residents want libraries off the list.

"We need these libraries to stay open," said Sarah Waiters, protest organizer. "The libraries provide so much - educational programs for kids and so much more."

Protesters from across the county gathered at Marietta Square to participate. Many learned of the protest from online posts by the "Save Cobb Libraries" Facebook page.

The county is also considering closing three senior centers and two pools and cutting every department's budget by 3.5 percent.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the budget Tuesday morning at 9 at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta. Patch will provide live updates from the meeting.

The proposed budget would run through September 2011 and includes a .5 millage rate increase for the county's fire fund, equaling a $40 tax increase for a home valued at $200,000.

To voice your opinions on the budget, you can e-mail budgetcomments@cobbcounty.org, or contact your district's commissioner:

Tim Lee
770-528-3305
tlee@cobbcounty.org

Helen Goreham
770-528-3313
hgoreham@cobbcounty.org

Joann Birrell
770-528-3317
joann.birrell@cobbcounty.org
 
Bob Ott
770-528-3316
bob.ott@cobbcounty.org
 
David Hankerson
770-528-2612
dhankerson@cobbcounty.org
 
G. Woody Thompson, Jr.
770-528-3311
wthompson@cobbcounty.org