MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The City of Milledgeville will discuss an ordinance Tuesday night to permanently increase the salaries of police and firefighters by $2,000.
It needs approval from the mayor and city council first. However, Hank Griffeth, City Manager, says the decision could go either way.
"Making that money permanent would cost a little over $200,000,” he explains.
Griffeth says the mayor and city council asked him for an amended budget plan to increase police and firefighter salaries permanently.
The initial 2023 budget approved in July included a $2,000 increase, as well as a $2,000 bonus. The bonus was funded with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan, but he says they can't keep using federal funds.
“Obviously, you have to think about the sustainability of it because at the end of 2026, you've either expended all those funds under the current federal law, or those funds you haven't expended go away,” he says.
Griffeth says the money to fund the raises in his new plan would come from their reserve fund balance, which is emergency back up money.
He says he knows both the police and fire department would like an even higher raise to offer a competitive salary, and livable wage. Griffeth says if an emergency happened and the city's reserve was used up, there could be consequences.
"You may have to look at laying employees off. You may have to start determining what services are necessary and what services are nice,” he says.
Griffeth says that surrounding municipalities are offering higher salaries, but he says he assumes some of them are using federal funds, and are not accounting for the longevity of that decision once funds run out.
He says he wants a fully-funded and staffed police and fire department just as badly as them, and says he understands their frustrations.
“I want those people to be the best they can be from a training perspective. I want them to be proud that they work for the city of Milledgeville,” Griffeth explains. “I would love to think and hope that they will stay with the city of Milledgeville working, but if they can't, they can't."
Folks around town gave their thoughts on the plan, like Jane Hart who's lived here for 60 years.
“I hope it passes with flying colors. They do a great job and they deserve more than what they get,” Hart says.
Justin Jones has co-owned the JC Grant Company jewelry store for 25 years. He says the increase is good because it would bring in more first responders.
"We hadn't had a break in for 30 or 40 years, and we had one this year. I don't want us to get into a position where that gets any worse,” Jones says.
Griffeth says the city isn't using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan or the CAREs Act, for future raises, because it's being used for sewer and water projects, and security cameras being installed around the county.