HB 847: Cobb County; tax commissioner and certain employees; change compensation

Cobb County's tax commissioner's office operates under a 1949 local law that sets salaries for the tax commissioner and certain staff. This bill rewrites Section 3 of that law to update those pay figures. The tax commissioner would keep the state-set minimum salary under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-183 plus a county supplement capped at $47,443. The chief clerk's annual salary is set at $170,751. The bill also sets salary caps of $71,111 per year each for the executive secretary and administrative specialist positions in the tax commissioner's office, both appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the tax commissioner. All four positions would still qualify for any cost-of-living or merit raises Cobb County gives its other employees. The bill repeals conflicting laws and takes effect once signed.

• Sets the Cobb County tax commissioner's pay as the state minimum salary plus a county supplement capped at $47,443 per year.
• Fixes the chief clerk's annual salary at $170,751, paid monthly from county funds.
• Caps the executive secretary's salary at $71,111 per year, a position appointed by and serving at the tax commissioner's discretion.
• Caps the administrative specialist's salary at $71,111 per year, also appointed by and serving at the tax commissioner's discretion.
• Allows the tax commissioner, chief clerk, executive secretary, and administrative specialist to also receive any cost-of-living or merit raises Cobb County gives its other employees.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these new pay terms.

The Cobb County tax commissioner and four specific staff positions in that office: the chief clerk, executive secretary, and administrative specialist. Cobb County taxpayers are also affected since these salaries are paid from county funds.

The bill changes how much Cobb County spends on its tax commissioner's office by locking in specific salary figures and caps in local law, meaning any future pay changes for these positions would likely require another act of the General Assembly rather than a simple county budget decision.

• Section 1 revises Section 3 of the 1949 Cobb County tax commissioner law, restating pay for the tax commissioner, chief clerk, executive secretary, and administrative specialist.
• The tax commissioner's salary equals the state minimum under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-183 plus a county supplement capped at $47,443.
• The chief clerk's salary is fixed at $170,751 per year, and candidates for tax commissioner must name their chief clerk pick when qualifying for election.
• The executive secretary and administrative specialist positions, both created by this bill's language, are capped at $71,111 per year each and serve at the tax commissioner's pleasure.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 521
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2026-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senado)
8. 2025-04-04Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Patrocinador principal
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• John Carson (R, HD-046)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes31 de marzo de 2025

   165 a favor, 0 en contra (10 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Local Calendar Without Hbs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado20 de marzo de 2026

   44 a favor, 0 en contra (5 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #761

• Cobb County government
• local government salaries
• tax commissioner
• county employee pay