Toccoa Commission Moves Closer to Increasing Its Pay

A pay increase for Toccoa City Commissioners moves one step closer.

On Monday, the Toccoa City Commission unanimously approved the first reading of a pay increase ordinance.

Under the ordinance change, the pay for a city commissioner would increase from $8,400 per year to $15,000 per year in 2018, while the pay for the mayor would increase from $10,800 per year to $15,996 per year starting in 2018.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said it has been some time since the city commission’s pay has changed.

“The last increase approved by the commission took place in 1999, so almost 20 years will have passed before the proposed increase takes effect,” said Morse. “Demands and duties have grown tremendously over the last 20 years, making the job more complicated and time-consuming.”

A number of people in attendance questioned the proposed pay hike for commissioners.

City resident Ron Wade said that now is not the time to be proposing such a raise.

“The commissioners decided to become public servants because they felt they could help lead the community,” said Wade. “It should not be about money. Too many people are still unemployed in Stephens County. Even many of those who are employed have seen benefits and salaries reduced.”

Wade went on to say that a pay increase should be based on goals like unemployment and homelessness, not necessarily what is going on in other communities.

Meanwhile, resident David Tate said it is quite a percentage hike that the commission is proposing.

“My Social Security raise in the last seven years has been four percent,” said Tate. “Look at that. Don’t look at what the other cities do. Look at what Toccoa has the finances to do and what it can do for its citizens.”

City commissioners must approve two readings of the pay increase before it can take effect.

The second reading of this is scheduled for the Toccoa City Commission’s May 23 meeting.