City Pay Woes - It Isn't All Chris Womack's Fault

No matter how much anyone wants to blame the current pay crisis on Chris Womack you can’t do it.  It has been in the works for years. These things happen to government's in cycles it is just time for Douglasville to catch up again.

I went to work for Douglasville Police Department in 1997. The mayor at the time was Charlie Camp who was beloved by most every city employee there. I had left a state job making substantially more money than I could be paid here.

Why did I leave??? I had been with the Department of Youth Services for nearly 15 years. I was the agent in charge of Internal Affairs working directly for the Assistant Director of Investigations. I had a take home car and I traveled all over the State of Georgia and surrounding states on cases. One case led me to Washington DC where I spent some time with the DC police. Sounds good right?

I was tired and home sick. I wanted to come back to Douglas County and finish up my career here. That didn’t work out like I planned but, that is for another day.  So, I talked with Joe and Charlie. Both were made concessions that made it possible for me to come back home. After talking and praying Linda and I decided to take the pay cut and do it.  Taking all things into consideration I was not hurt too bad.

 

In 1998 all employees were given a 6% increase along with a $1000 dollar bonus for staying for not using sick leave.  Folks,  that was a good increase I don’t care who you worked for.  The most I ever received at the State was 4%.  As a side note the bonus was discontinued some time later and I was a supervisor. Employees told me they earned their sick leave and they would take it. So, folks who don’t say incentives don’t work?

 

From 1997 until 1999 I went from the starting salary and two promotions to close to where I was when I left the State. However, we were losing employees and dropping standards to hire new officers. We were at rock bottom in the metro Atlanta area in starting salary. Furthermore, there was no top out salary available. Employees had no idea when they would reach the salary cap.

At that time Councilman Doug Lequire took the bull by the horns and did a complete study of every job in city government and came up with a classification for each one. Then he did the what most companies did at the time was giving each classification a step increase to a top out level in pay.  The State of Georgia began the same practice a few years after I left with guaranteed step increases.

The intent was for every employee to know where they would be in the future and they would have to work for that increase. If they didn’t make the grade they stayed at the same salary. In addition the traditional summer picnic, and Christmas party where the employee received the $1000 bonus for not taking sick leave, and other items were given to the employee.

The council voted on the plan and it was enacted. All city employees received a significant increase in salary.  My increase was over $5000.00.  The starting pay for a patrolman was increased to well above any department in the state. We began keeping folks and hiring quality people.

Within two years the entire system was thrown completely out the door by the council due to its cost.  The picnics, Christmas parties, bonus, and other incentives were eventually taken from every employee. Since that time the starting salary has been stagnant. 

There are many issues as I see it. The council has not increased taxes relying on sales tax, fines (money maker), fees, and other assorted ways and means of coming up with income.  The Pink Elephant’s such as an elaborate Police Department (go see for yourself), Conference Center, and a golf course that are losers draining income and resources.

I do have an issue with the police department being rank or, supervision heavy. I have voiced this before and will continue to. You do not need a lieutenant, sergeant, and corporal on a shift to supervise four officers. It is only a way of giving raises to employees. It is just not right.  So, I believe you get the idea.

But, when you come right down to the cash for police officers and city employees raises, don’t blame it all on Chris Womack, there is room for all to share.