Cobb County Commissioners unanimously approved $8 million in cuts to the current-year budget and finalized an early-retirement incentive for county workers. They also welcomed a new transportation director, Faye DiMassimo from the Atlanta engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates.

"Right now, with revenues down, this is to make sure in 2010 we end in the black, and to prepare for what we are expecting to be a difficult 2010 and 2011," said County Manager David Hankerson. "This retirement program is voluntary and is a personal decision they'll have to make. We're not forcing anyone to retire."

About 450 employees - who have either already reached retirement eligibility or who would be eligible by Dec. 30, 2011 - qualify for the incentive, and the county needs at least 100 employees to take advantage of it, the county's spokesman said.

"If we get less than that, then we may have to evaluate some things and look at other options," spokesman Robert Quigley said.

Employees have until March 30 to make their decisions, and until April 30 to exit, though in some cases that may be delayed.

"As we expect the tax digest to go down in the next couple of years, we can retain the low millage rate without furloughs or layoffs with this program," Chairman Sam Olens said. "It is our express hope that these savings and this program will remove layoffs and furlough days from our employees' jargon."

After the $8 million in cuts to various departments, the county's total operating and capital budget stands at $804 million.

Commissioners appointed DiMassimo as the new director of transportation. Effective Jan. 17, she will replace David Montanye, who asked last May to return to his previous job as a division manager in the department.

DiMassimo has 25 years of experience in the public and private sector, including nine years with the Federal Highway Administration. Her annual salary will be $132,000.

"Myself and the county manager have known Faye for a number of years and she is one of the top 10 folks in transportation planning in the metro area," Olens said. "She lives in Cobb, is active in the Pebblebrook Foundation, and it is our honor to recognize Faye as our new director."

The board also approved 4-0 an item on the consent agenda that makes Commissioner Woody Thompson the board's vice chair for the year 2010. Vice chair is recommended by the chairman and a different vice chair is chosen each year. Thompson's appointment is substantial, as he will be interim chairman for approximately three months when Olens retires at the end of March to focus on his run for the state's next attorney general. A special election will be held in July to elect the new chairman. Commissioner Helen Goreham, who was not able to attend Tuesday's meeting, served as vice chair for the year 2009.

Brad Bowers, the county's finance director, presented the audited financial report from fiscal 2009, which ended June 30, that showed a general-fund surplus of about $300,000. Fifty-nine percent of the county's general fund revenues come from property taxes.

The board also unanimously approved the use of $617,000 in cell tower revenue to pay for renovations of the county-owned Cobblestone Golf Course in Acworth. The money is typically used to pay for playgrounds and athletic facilities.

Cobb Public Services Director Bob Ash said that the course has been named one of the top public courses in the Southeast by Golf Digest, but has had no major repairs since it opened in 1993 and is in need of renovation. The course will remain open during the renovation.

"We look forward to the day that the economy is vibrant again and we can privatize the course," Olens said.