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Firefighters urge Milledgeville council to fix pay and compression, warn of retention risks
Summary
Members of Millersville/Milligville Fire Rescue and community supporters told the Milledgeville City Council on June 9 that firefighter salaries lag neighboring departments, that pay compression narrows rank-based pay differences, and that improved compensation is needed to recruit and retain personnel.
David Usher, who identified himself as a battalion chief with the city fire service, told the Milledgeville City Council on June 9 that "the facts are clear. We are underpaid," and urged the council to pursue a solution beyond averaging neighboring salaries.
Usher said his department collected salary data through open‑records requests and that the results show Millersville/Milligville firefighters trail surrounding municipalities. He also described pay compression within the department — in his words, "a firefighter makes close pay to a sergeant" — and said the difference between front‑line firefighters and supervisors has narrowed to the point it discourages retention and advancement.
Other fire service speakers echoed Usher. Rodney Hines, who identified himself as a battalion chief, outlined a 15‑step training pipeline for recruits and said increased funding would support the department’s ability to train and field firefighters safely. Lieutenant Rashad Smith told the council that market competitiveness is essential to recruit and retain talent, to preserve the department’s ISO rating and to maintain public‑safety service levels.
Speakers asked for a substantive approach to compensation rather than the "overly simplistic" method of averaging adjacent agencies, and pushed back on remarks they said suggested pay increases would force layoffs. The speakers asked for transparent explanation if the city cannot afford raises and for council leadership to present viable funding options.
Council members acknowledged the comments and did not take formal action on firefighter pay during the June 9 meeting. The public comment period concluded and the council proceeded to agenda items. No specific salary figures or a timetable for council consideration were presented in the recorded remarks.
Next steps: Council did not vote on pay or budget amendments at the meeting; the speakers asked council to provide a clear explanation of the city's fiscal position and to propose constructive options for addressing compression and market gaps.
