Brookhaven continues to fund police to ensure continuation of a safe, efficiently run city
City making sure police starting pay in the top 10%
Brookhaven, GA, Sept. 14, 2023 – At the Sept. 12 regular business meeting, the Brookhaven City Council authorized the compensation policy and pay adjustments for police and civilian employees. The ordinance, effective Oct. 1, authorizes the City Manager and the Human Resources Department to make equity adjustments as needed to ensure Brookhaven remains competitive in the public safety and administrative job markets.
“All of our employees are essential for the effective delivery of essential government services. Our police force in particular is the bedrock of our very existence,” said Mayor John Ernst. “They take great care of our community, so we need to be sure we take care of them by staying competitive in the job market.”
“Brookhaven is committed to providing a compensation plan that recognizes the work of each individual and pays our employees fairly for the value of the work and against the market,” said Human Resources Director Lillian Young. “We strive to maintain a competitive system that places us at or above the market in comparison to our Peer Group with the goal of being in the top 10-20 percentile.”
Like all public service sectors nationwide, Brookhaven must constantly evaluate benefits and salaries to remain competitive in hiring and retention processes. Nearly every police department in the metro-Atlanta area is understaffed and actively recruiting.
Beginning Oct. 1, the following will take effect:
- The starting police annual salary will begin at $56,000, up 15 percent from the current $48,500 level.
- The remaining Police Officer salary tiers would continue to increase based on compression up to 12 percent.
- The Police housing allowance increases from $800 per month to $1,000 for officers residing in the City of Brookhaven.
- Increase the top and bottom of every pay grade range by 3 percent for all employees.
- Increase the salary of any employee below the new minimum of the grade up to the minimum following the 3 percent adjustment.
- Propose a 5 percent merit increase for all employees in the 2024 budget for 2024.
“In order to keep the high quality of police officer that we currently have, we must be competitive with our pay, compensation and benefits. I am pleased to support this initiative,” said District 1 Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tempore Linley Jones.
“This is an important task. All of our employees are responsible for providing the important services we offer as a City, and we need to be sure we are treating them right,” said District 2 Councilmember Jennifer Owens.
“Police officers in particular have a vast array of agencies to choose from, and certified police officers have a disincentive to remain at a single agency. Our neighboring cities and counties have implemented pay increases, which puts Brookhaven at a competitive disadvantage,” said District 3 Councilmember Madeleine Simmons.
“Times have changed, and are continuing to change rapidly, even in the relatively short time I have been on this Council. Brookhaven employees earned their level of respect that competitive wages represent, and I support this measure wholeheartedly,” said District 4 Councilmember John Funny.
The Brookhaven compensation plan aligns with the City’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in that it is objective and nondiscriminatory in nature. All jobs are evaluated and placed in a grade range hierarchy based on a number of variables that help to ensure both fairness and effectiveness. The salary and compensation changes which take effect in October restore the City of Brookhaven within the top 10-20 percent of market competitors for all Brookhaven employees.
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