Proposed county commissioner pay scale
Chairman
Base salary adjusted plus local supplement adjustment $12,000
Incentive component (complete initial ACCG commissioner training, $100 month) $1,200
Local incentive component (complete at least 3 ACCG training tracks after initial, $100 month) $1,200
Called meeting fee-maximum 72 ($100 meeting) $7,200
***does not include regular meetings or scheduled work sessions
Commissioners, all districts
Base salary adjusted plus local supplement adjustment $9,600
Incentive component (complete initial ACCG commissioner training, $100 month) $1,200
Local incentive component (complete at least 3 ACCG training tracks after initial, $100 month) $1,200
Called meeting fee-maximum 72 ($100 meeting) $7,200
***does not include regular meetings or scheduled work sessions
Cost of living adjustments to the base salary and the local incentive supplements shall apply as provided in the Georgia Code. Cost of living adjustments shall apply to the incentive payments, but shall not apply to the called meeting fees.
Public hearings are planned to revise an ordinance regarding county commissioner compensation.
The change would not increase the pay for any of the county's five commissioners.
"I'd like the public to know that this was brought about because of the language that ACCG (the Association County Commissioners of Georgia) used when they revamped their training," said District 2 Commissioner James Swafford. "There is no increase in anybody's pay. In fact, it's a reduction in pay because, in the past, district three was compensated more than the other districts.
"That commissioner never received that increased pay, anyway, so it's completely no change in pay whatsoever."
County Attorney Joey Homans said the need to update the ordinance came after ACCG made changes to an incentive program designed to encourage commissioners to continue their government leadership training.
"Years ago, commissioner compensation had been tied to the training as it relates to the incentive component, enacting legislation establishes pay and under state law, the cost of living approval is added in later," he said. "We are proposing to change the incentive component because ACCG has changed the title of their classes, so they no longer match under our ordinances."
The proposed new ordinance also calls for a revision to the District 3 (Jimmy Hamby) commission pay, which in the past has been higher than the other commissioners.
"The reason that District 3 received more was because, when that ordinance was enacted originally, the commissioner from District 3's longevity was more than the other commissioners," Homans said. "However, the commissioner from District 3 has been paid without the longevity increase due to the flat rate."
Public hearings on the ordinance revisions are planned during the commission's May 21 and June 4 meetings.
If approved, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2017.
The board meets at 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Dawson County Government Center.