South Fulton Today

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond presented a measure that would provide law enforcement officials with a $14.1 million pay raise, as well as other bonuses.

The money would come through the 2022 budget proposal Thurmond brought to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Thurmond is confident the commissioners are in step with the measure and should approve it quickly.

"We recognize that public safety is a team effort," Thurmond told Fox 5 Atlanta. "We are also increasing salaries and providing bonuses not just for our police officers, but for our investigators at the DA's office, the solicitor's office, in juvenile court, probation and parole, all sworn officers."

Roughly 2,500 police and other law enforcement personnel could see their income rise by this spring if the proposal is approved, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. The $14.1 million is intended to aid in retaining, recruiting and training public safety officials

The initiative is part of larger $1.2 billion budget proposal that would include adding 100 officers to the DeKalb police department, DeKalb County reported in a release. The proposal also plans to permanently standardize pandemic frontline pay, provide retention and hiring bonuses, enhance starting salaries, and provide a bigger 401(a) match.

"Our men and women who protect and serve the citizens of DeKalb are the most critical components of our workforce." Thurmond said in the release.

The measure also provides nonsworn county personnel and retirees with 4% and 2% cost-of-living adjustments, respectively, to combat inflation, DeKalb County reported.

"I am proud of this investment. It is evidence of the fact that we support the men and women in uniform," Thurmond told Fox 5 Atlanta.