Douglas County Board of Commissioners Roll Back Millage Rate,
Boost Starting Salaries for Sheriff Deputies to Second Highest in Metro Region
(Douglasville, Ga.) During a special called meeting on Friday, September 8, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted to roll back the millage rate. The Board simultaneously adopted a plan that would boost the starting salary for Sheriff Deputies and provide incremental pay increases to all County employees.
Following a unanimous vote, the Board of Commissioners adopted a millage rate of 12. 313, a decrease from the current millage rate of 12.563. The adoption followed three public hearings throughout August during which Commissioners received input from citizens regarding the impact of the millage rate on their property taxes.
After formally adopting the new millage rate, the Board of Commissioners voted to adopt phase one of the “Douglas Forward Reinvestment Plan,” a comprehensive plan presented by County Administration focused on workforce and capital asset investments throughout the County.
Phase one of the reinvestment plan includes $5.3 million dollars earmarked for salary investments, which includes increasing the starting pay for Douglas County Sheriff Deputies from $50, 774 to $58, 500, the second highest in the metro region behind Fulton County.
“I stand here today extremely grateful for each of and every one of you,” said Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds, expressing appreciation for the Board of Commissioners adoption of the plan and acknowledging that the higher pay would help attract and retain a talented team of employees within the Sheriff’s Office.
As part of the reinvestment plan, all county employees will realize an increase in pay from 2-7% depending upon tenure and other variables. The increases are slated to take effect on September 30, 2023.
“Our employees are our most valuable asset,” said Interim County Administrator Dr. David Corbin. An investment in our workforce is an investment in our community and our goal of delivering superior service to the citizens of Douglas County. This investment also aligns with the Douglas Forward 2025 Strategic Plan objective to ‘attract, develop, and retain a great workforce.’ We appreciate the Board of Commissioners’ commitment to our team and the value they have placed upon their contributions to our government and our community,” said Dr. Corbin.
In addition to public safety, Phase One reinvestment funds totaling $10 million will go toward infrastructure, economic development, and quality of life resources in the areas of parks and recreation, libraries, and senior services.
The second phase of the “Douglas Forward Reinvestment Plan will be presented to the Board of Commissioners during the September 19th meeting.
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