MARIETTA, Ga. — Cobb County residents are gearing up for what could be another heated debate at this week’s public hearing as the Board of Commissioners considers a controversial stormwater fee many are calling a “rain tax.”
The county’s proposal — a flat $4.75 monthly charge for residential customers and the same rate per 3,700 square feet of impervious surface for businesses and institutions — has reignited frustration among homeowners still skeptical after last year’s failed attempt to push through a similar measure.
For many residents, especially in unincorporated Cobb and the newly formed City of Mableton, the fee represents another rising cost during a time of inflation and uncertainty. “We’re already paying more for groceries, gas, and utilities,” said Lance Lamberson, chair of the Cobb Taxpayer Association. “Now the county wants to charge us for the rain that falls on our property — it’s unreasonable and unfair.”…