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Millledgeville firefighters urge council to fix pay and address pay compression
Summary
Battalion chiefs and lieutenants told the Millledgeville City Council on June 9 that firefighter pay lags neighboring departments and internal pay compression is harming recruitment, retention and morale, and they urged the council to pursue a comprehensive pay solution rather than simple averaging.
Firefighters pressed Millledgeville City Council on June 9 for a comprehensive solution to what they described as years of underpayment and damaging pay compression.
"The facts are clear. We are underpaid," battalion chief David Usher told the council during the public‑comment period, saying open‑records salary comparisons show Millledgeville Fire Rescue lags surrounding municipalities. Usher and fellow officers described how the compression of pay between firefighters, company officers and supervisors reduces incentives for experience and leadership.
Lieutenant Rashad Smith said improving pay is essential to recruit and retain certified personnel and to maintain training standards. "Market competitiveness to acquire and retain talent" is necessary, he said, noting firefighters work 24‑ to 48‑hour shifts and face risks that affect families and long‑term staffing.
Rodney Hines, another battalion chief, asked council to approve the fire department budget presented to the body, outlining a multi‑step training pipeline for new recruits and arguing that better funding would raise public‑safety performance.
Mayor Farum Copelan and council members did not take final action during the meeting on compensation policy. Instead, the comments were entered during the public‑comment section ahead of upcoming budget and personnel deliberations. Council members signaled they heard the concerns; several noted the topic would factor into future budget conversations.
The public comment also included emotional testimony about health risks and morale. No formal response or motion to change pay scales was made at the June 9 meeting; any budget adjustments would require council action in a future agenda and budget cycle.
Reporting note: quotes and attributions are drawn from public comments recorded on the June 9 meeting transcript.
