Published: 06/29/2008

In September 2006, IMPACT was the first Civic Group to stand up in front of the Cobb County Commissioners in support of the $40 million parkland acquisition bond referendum.

The citizens of Cobb saw the value in purchasing land for green space, for a number of reasons:

* Across the U.S. access to parks and open spaces has become a measure of community wealth - a tool for attracting businesses and residents by guaranteeing quality of life and economic health.

* Development actually costs towns more than it gives because schools, streets, police officers and other necessary municipal services drain more than they are required to pay in taxes.

* Open-space preservation helps communities grow smart, preventing the higher costs of unplanned development.

* Corporate CEO's say that employee quality of life is the third most important factor in locating a new business.

* Open-space conservation is often the cheapest way to safeguard drinking water, clean the air and achieve other environmental goals.

In 2006, the first $40 million parkland acquisition did not cause a tax increase because the new bond replaced a bond that was coming to term.

The new proposed parkland acquisition could raise taxes, but even a property tax increase of up to $15 annually would be a most worthwhile investment. There are many people that will not vote for a tax increase no matter what the cause, but can we really afford not to set aside more land for green space?

IMPACT, again supports a new bond for park land acquisition.

Laura van Mever

IMPACT

(Involved Mariettans Planning Actively for the Future)