MACON, Ga. — The people who help keep Macon-Bibb County safe found something extra in their latest paychecks.
Bibb County public safety employees received their annual incentive bonuses.
439 people who've worked 10 or more years with the county's fire department, sheriff's office, Lake Tobesofkee rangers, Emergency Management Agency, E-911, Civil Court Sheriffs and other agencies got their share of $1.8 million.
The goal is to help Bibb County keep its veteran workers.
For the third year in a row, Bibb County Fire's Lt. William Strange received his incentive bonus.
Those who have worked for 10 to 14 years received $2,500 each, those working 15 to 19 years got $4,000 and those with 20-plus years received $5,500.
Strange has been with Bibb County Fire for 16 years.
"It's a very humbling and rewarding job," Strange said. "When I started I was not looking to get that. It didn't come on until a couple of years ago and I already had my 10-year mark. While it doesn't keep me here, it is a very nice bump whenever it does come along."
These incentive bonuses also address the national challenges with firefighter retention.
Although the additional pay is needed, Strange said he would like to see more for his co-workers.
"The mark is set a little high as far as the amount of time that has to pass for you to receive it," Strange said. "If you're waiting 10 years to get a certain amount, you're waiting a while just for that one-time payment. I think the times could be changed as far as trying to keep people, they could lower the time and maybe that would help retain people."
Christopher Yaughn is the Bibb County Fire Department's captain and has been with Bibb County for nearly 20 years.
Yaughn said he enjoys seeing his younger counterparts on the job and being a resource to the community, He also thinks lowering the number of years to qualify for the incentive pay would be good.
"While we're appreciative of the pay, we do have a lot of our younger guys that aren't getting the pay," Yaughn said. "With retention and recruitment across the nation for all public safety issues, it would help if it was available a little earlier for some of the younger guys."
Morreco Tharpe is also a lieutenant for Bibb County Fire and has been with the county for almost 17 years. He says the bonus helps more than they expect.
"It's just something to look forward to every year, knowing that you'll get it at the end of the year," Tharpe said. "Perhaps you have some bills that's due and it just comes in handy. It really does help."
Bibb County public safety employees receive the incentives on the first full pay period each January. For the past three years, the payout total was between $1.8 million and $1.9 million.