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Athens-Clarke County staff recommend 20-step fire pay plan after compensation study
Summary
Consultants reported fire pay ranges lag peer markets and recommended moving to nine grades with 20 steps, widening range spread to 40% and phasing implementation (approx. $687,000) with staff to return with budget details and a December agenda report for a formal vote.
Consultants presenting to the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission on Nov. 12 recommended a redesigned fire pay plan that would expand the department’s step progression from seven steps to 20, increase pay-range spread from 30% to 40% and move minimums to the market average to improve recruitment and retention.
"We're looking at right around $687,000 to implement," Alex Turner, the senior compensation consultant, said, describing the recommended implementation and a plan to phase increases so the cost could be split across two periods if the commission moves forward.
The study covered 174 employees in nine fire classifications and compared Athens-Clarke pay to 18 peer jurisdictions. Consultants reported the department’s pay was about 3% below the market minimum, roughly 12% below the market midpoint and about 18% below the…
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