By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald
At its final meeting of 2024 Dec. 9, the Guyton City Council approved a 2.6% cost-of-living pay adjustment for all city employees. A pay boost of a 7% increase in the hourly rate was also approved for all POST-certified Guyton police officers.
The pay increases are effective Jan. 8.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national annual inflation rate as of November 2024 was 2.7%.
According to the City of Guyton website, the posted starting salary for police officers is $22.07/hour or just under $46,000/year.
The pay bump for Guyton PD, according to Mayor Andy Harville, is to make the city more competitive with surrounding cities’ departments.
“We’re still $2 (an hour) less than anybody else,” Harville said. “And for us to be competitive with anybody close to us, that 7% will bring us up to $23.11 (per hour).”
“After the 2.6% cost-of-living adjustment, the amount will be $23.11 (per hour),” Councilmember Jeremiah Chancey concurred.
“And we’re still less than the City of Springfield, Effingham County (sheriff), Port Wentworth, and Rincon,” Harville added.
Then Harville listed the starting pay rates for those departments.
“Rincon starts at $26.13, Effingham County Sheriff (deputies) start at $23.52, and Springfield starts at $23.36,” Harville said.
There was a brief discussion led by Mayor Pro Tem Michael Johnson about the differences among the municipalities, most notably that Guyton does not have the same amount of commercial business nor industry as Springfield, Rincon, and the county.
“This is just to catch them (Guyton PD) up to where they need to be,” Harville said.
“I think if we keep (the pay rate) the same, we’re still going to have a high turnover rate,” Councilmember Theodore Hamby said. “Whether it’s people leaving or people going elsewhere to get a higher rate of pay.
“I think $23.11 (per hour) is a modest increase compared to the rest of the county …it will at least stop the turnover rate,” Hamby added.
The pay increase for the Guyton Police Department passed 4-1, with Johnson being the sole “no” vote.
In other action, the Guyton City Council
· approved a $500 Christmas bonus to all city employees.
· approved an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance adding liquor stores as an acceptable business within C-1 (Central Business District) zoning.
· approved the 2025 Earth Day Festival to be held in conjunction with the city’s Spring Sale on the Trail in April. Effingham Georgia Green is proposing either April 19 or April 26 as the date, since Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22.
· approved a contract with AlcineXtreme Fitness LLC to offer the community one free fitness class each week in the Guyton Gym. According to the proposal, classes may range from HITT (high-intensity interval training), yoga, dance, or strength training. Coach Alcine said the first free class will be Zumba, Monday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
· authorized the city attorney to research options for the Downtown Development Authority to lease the Guyton Gym from the city.
The Guyton City Council will hold its first meeting of 2025 Jan. 14 at City Hall beginning at 7 p.m.
