Bibb County commissioners said they want better pay for employees, but they voted Tuesday to defer a decision on a pay scale for two weeks while they search for money.
The pay plan would cost $468,000 between January and June, but when second and third phases are implemented, personnel costs would rise by about $3.4 million per year. Nick Kouloungis of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, who created the pay scale, said a fourth boost in pay would have to be determined later to make the pay more equitable with competing counties.
Commissioners balked at the study, saying they’d only had a few days to review it and were skeptical that only salaries — but no benefits — were compared. But the costs were a worry, too.
“I will not make a decision to spend money we don’t have,” said Commissioner Lonzy Edwards, who wants to raise wages.
Commission Chairman Sam Hart said there had never been an intention to make a decision Tuesday. But staff had asked just that in November, saying a vote Dec. 6 was necessary to launch the pay plan for January.
Chief Administrative Officer Steve Layson said it’s possible to start with one phase of the pay plan, but that would create problems if the rest of the plan wasn’t ultimately adopted.
A Telegraph analysis suggests the first phase of the pay scale would raise employee pay an average of $1,029 per year. Starting deputies’ pay would rise from $25,688 to $27,970.90.
The measure is slated to be next reviewed at the Dec. 20 commission meeting.
