Augusta marshal urges pay increases after wave of departures; commission directs administrator to craft response

Marshall Lampkin, marshal of Augusta, told the Augusta City Commission on Jan. 7 that his office has seen a sudden staffing loss and asked the commission for pay increases to retain and recruit sworn deputies.

Lampkin said the marshal's office has lost 23 sworn deputies in recent weeks from a complement that had been about 61 sworn officers. He told commissioners that the office’s starting pay is currently $45,000 and that Richmond County Sheriff’s Office starting pay is $56,369, a difference he said is driving departures. Lampkin said the office has suspended proactive programs — including probation cleanup, homeless-task-force activities, and other quality-of-life enforcement — until staffing is restored.

Commissioners pressed Lampkin for details about recruitment efforts and budget options, and Administrator Allen (referred to in the meeting as the city administrator) said the marshal’s budget does not have spare positions to reallocate. Lampkin recommended a graduated increase — 10% for deputies, 8% for corporals, 6% for sergeants, 4% for lieutenants and 2% for captains and above — and said meeting that scale would cost roughly $320,000. He said the raise would move the marshal start toward $49,500 but still short of the sheriff’s starting pay.

The commission did not approve an immediate across-the-board raise. Instead, Commissioner Francine Scott moved (seconded on the floor) that the marshal work with the city administrator to develop a compensation/resolution plan “to make them [the marshals] more whole,” with a target to return to the commission in about three weeks. Commissioners discussed terminology — including concerns that “make them whole” might imply a larger amount — and amended the motion to direct the marshal and administrator to prepare a proposal rather than guarantee full parity. That motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Garnett L. Johnson and several commissioners emphasized that mandatory duties (court security, evictions, airport security) must continue and that some voluntary programs will remain suspended until staffing improves.

Lampkin said the office performs court services, evictions, airport security and other duties that require certified officers; he argued that the marshal's mix of responsibilities is comparable to the sheriff's and that pay disparities have hurt retention. Administrator Allen and commissioners discussed budget constraints and options; Allen said contingency funds or reclassifications would be needed to fund any restructured pay scale.

The commission's direction was procedural: staff and the marshal will draft a compensation/retention proposal for the commission to consider, with an expectation the administrator will present a plan to the commission within weeks.

The commission took no immediate pay action at the meeting; Lampkin and Administrator Allen will return the proposal for a vote or further discussion.