Hall County officials will implement about $1.9 million in raises and bonuses for workers in November.

The money was approved in this year’s 2016 fiscal year budget.

The biggest priority, officials said, is getting wages and salaries for public safety personnel on par with neighboring agencies.

“With our peer group, we have to be competitive,” Commissioner Scott Gibbs said.

Pay has led to attrition in the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Services.

“We were spending a lot of money in training and losing employees to surrounding counties,” Commissioner Jeff Stowe said.

And that problem could be compounded with the opening of a new jail in Forsyth County this month.

It’s an issue Gainesville has dealt with recently. City officials pushed for a pay study last year following complaints from the police and fire departments about how low wages were leading to attrition among trained staff.

County officials know they cannot compete with some regional governments, but they hope to bring pay up to market levels to stem the loss of trained personnel and help improve recruitment of qualified staff.

“I’m a realist,” Gibbs said. “We can’t pay the same thing that Fulton County pays or the city of Atlanta.”

The county has been slowly bumping up pay for workers since freezes during the economic recession.

Full-time employees received a 3 percent cost-of-living raise last year after no such increases since 2008. And bonuses were distributed the year before.

Those who do not receive a pay increase this year could receive a one-time bonus between $100 and $1,000, depending on years of experience and service.

However, staff with less than one year of service will not be eligible to receive a bonus.

“We appreciate everybody,” Gibbs said, adding that officials are trying to be as equitable as possible.

Elected officials, top county administrators, seasonal workers and various board members will not receive any pay increase or bonus.

“... This plan was made with thoughtful consideration to address significant pay issues in specific departments — and provide a bonus opportunity for most employees — while keeping strict budget constraints in mind,” county spokeswoman Katie Crumley wrote to employees in an email on Friday.

But officials understand it’s hard to please everyone.

“No matter what you do there’s going to be somebody that’s not happy with the way that it was done,” Commissioner Billy Powell said. “But we try to be as fair as possible in all regards.”

Hall raises and bonuses
Salary increases — effective Nov. 6

• Only specific positions within the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department will receive pay increases. Staff members who do not receive an increase may be eligible for a bonus.
• An increase ranging from $2,500 to $3,500 per year will be given to staff in specific positions within the Sheriff’s Office. Those positions are Jailer ($3,500), Deputy Sheriff ($3,500), Investigator ($3,500), Sergeant ($3,500), Lieutenant ($3,000), 1st Lieutenant ($2,500) and Captain ($2,500).
• With some exceptions, staff in the Sheriff’s Office that do not receive a pay increase will receive a bonus (see below).
• An increase of 5 percent will be given to staff in specific positions within Fire Services. Those positions are Firefighter/EMT I, Firefighter/EMT II, Lieutenant and Sergeant.
• Staff in the Fire Department that are certified as a paramedic will receive an additional $2 per hour when assigned as a paramedic during their shift.
• With some exceptions, staff in the Fire Department that do not receive a pay increase will receive a bonus (see below).

Bonuses – effective Nov. 13

• Staff who have completed one year of service as of Nov. 1 are eligible to receive a bonus. Staff with less than one year of service will not be eligible to receive a bonus.
• Bonuses will be equal to $100 per year of full-time service as of Nov. 1 up to a maximum of $1,000, or 10 years of full-time service.
• Bonuses will be “grossed up” so that taxes are included and deducted. For example, for employees with 10 years of full-time service, their total bonus will be $1,333 before taxes and $1,000 after taxes are withheld.
• Some part-time staff will receive a bonus of $100, also grossed up for taxes. (See last bullet point in the following section)

Staff not eligible for increase or bonus

• Elected officials
• County Administrator and Assistant County Administrator
• Appointed officials
• State employees
• Ineligible employees, which include seasonal/temporary employees, interns, temporary poll workers, bailiffs and members of county boards.

Source: Hall County government