Rome City Commissioners Consider Raising Salaries for Police Officers, Firefighters and City Employees

Rome City Council members voted this week in favor of a general pay raise for all city employees.

The pay increase followed a study that found police officers, firefighters and public works workers in cities are paid nearly 20% less than in surrounding provinces.

The salary increase is estimated to add $2.5 million to the budget, of which $1.6 million would come from the city’s general and enterprise funds, the rest from county government.

The recommendation to city commissioners was to create a base wage for firefighters and public safety of $52,000. In other departments, the base wage would increase from $13 an hour to $16 an hour.

If the wage increase is approved, it is expected to take effect on September 1.^st.