City boosts pay for police, sanitation, other employees

Move is intended to help address staffing shortages.

Powder Springs City Coun- cil on Monday approved pay increases for the city’s police officers, public works crew members and customer ser- vice reps.

City officials said the move to make their wage levels more competitive with surrounding cities is meant to address staffing shortages. It’s also intended to help retain employees and recruit new ones.

“This current change is intended to further address the value of these essential positions to our city,” Powder Springs spokesman Jon Gargis said in an email Wednesday.

The city hired Evergreen Solutions, a Florida-based consultant, to conduct a pay and classification study in March. The company determined Powder Springs’ pay ranges were below market value.

City Manager Pam Conner recommended the pay ranges be updated for certified police officers, some public works employees and customer service reps. She told council members the changes can be supported by the city’s general fund budget this fiscal year and next.

City Council boosted the minimum pay 3% for sanitation employees, public works drivers and maintenance workers. The city also increased the minimum pay 5% for its sworn police force and accounts receivable clerks in the utility billing department.

Current employees in those posts will get a 3-5% pay hike and new hires will start at the higher rates.

The changes are expected to cost the city about $96,000 from its general fund, according to Gargis. They will take effect in the next two pay cycles.

“What that change does is it gets sanitation closer to a $15 (per hour) mark or a little bit over $15,” Conner said.