Macon-Bibb pay raises aim to boost public safety as taxes cut
Ten-year veterans of Macon-Bibb public safety will be eligible for annual bonuses under a plan passed Tuesday to retain workers and curb staff shortages.
The Macon-Bibb County Commission agreed to raises and bonuses for many workers Tuesday evening as they also cut property taxes.
Law enforcement and public safety workers on the job at least 10 years will be getting annual bonuses beginning at the first of the year. Amounts range from $2,500 to $5,500 based on length of service.
The payments at the end of January will count toward the worker’s pension benefits and will be taxed, Mayor Lester Miller said.
All nine commissioners sponsored that measure that is designed to retain experienced public safety workers as Macon-Bibb has been losing veteran employees to other jurisdictions and struggling to hire new staff.
Commissioners also voted to phase in a minimum wage increase designed to bring the lowest salaries up to $15 an hour by 2023.
A millage rate decrease also will lower property taxes in Fiscal Year 2022 which began in mid-2021.
Commissioners held both the Committee of the Whole and regular meeting Tuesday evening. Highlights are captured in live tweets from the sessions.
