Fulton County advances 2026 salary ordinance; council schedules third reading for November

Fulton County’s council read Ordinance No. 11182025 — described as the 2026 salary schedule and compensation policy — and approved both its first and second readings at the Oct. 21 meeting. The ordinance establishes FLSA exempt/nonexempt classifications, longevity-pay tiers and procedures for job classification and reclassification.

The ordinance text, read by the council, specifies longevity payments (for example, $500 for five through nine years of service, $1,000 for ten through 14 years, $1,500 for 15 through 19 years and $2,000 for 20+ years), and states that employees participating in Fulton County health insurance will receive $2,500 annually to an HSA via partial payroll payments. The ordinance adopts the Fulton County personnel policy (dated Sept. 5, 2025) by reference and creates a job-classification compensation committee of three council members plus the county owner as ex officio.

Council members approved the ordinances’ first and second readings by voice vote and scheduled a third reading at the November meeting, after which the ordinance would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, as written in the ordinance language.

Council members asked procedural questions during the reading about whether elected officials and staff raises were included; the chair and members confirmed the proposed dollar amounts (a $1 hourly increase and $2,000 for salaried positions were discussed as part of budget conversations) and noted that further budget decisions could affect final compensation.

The council did not alter the ordinance during the readings; the measure will return for a final vote at the next meeting.