Latest news with #LorraineCochrane-Johnson
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DeKalb Co. police officers receive pay raises
Beginning today, hundreds of DeKalb County police officers are benefitting from a pay increase. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochrane-Johnson wanted to give officers big raises, plus stipends to make it easier to afford to live in their communities. Her goal is to have DeKalb County offer some of the highest salaries in the metro Atlanta area. To do so, county officials said they would be moving funds from different parts of the county budget to invest $10.43 million into the effort. The following salary adjustments are now in effect: Police Recruits: Base salary increased to $61,000 ($64,050 with a degree) Police Officers: Base salary increased to $62,525 ($65,651 with a degree) Police Officer Senior: New base salary of $70,000 ($73,500 with a degree) Master Police Officers, Helicopter Pilots, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors received a 7.1% salary increase 'This pay increase is not just about numbers—it's about valuing the men and women who put their lives on the line every day for DeKalb County. Investing in public safety is an investment in economic development, property values, and the well-being of our entire community My administration is committed to ensuring our officers have the support, resources, and respect they deserve,' Cochran-Johnson said in a statement. 'Investing in public safety is an investment in economic development, property values, and the well-being of our entire community. My administration is committed to ensuring our officers have the support, resources, and respect they deserve.' The county is looking to fill the roughly 300 open police officer positions. The county said the DeKalb County Police Department has 841 funded sworn positions, but only 531 of those are filled. The police department will hold a recruiting event on Saturday, March 8 at 9 a.m. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta tire shop owner shot, killed by employee before owner's son shoots him, friend says Another Delta flight forced to turn back to Atlanta shortly after takeoff over engine issue 3-year-old killed in DeKalb County wreck [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DeKalb County commissioners approve 10% water, sewer rate hike
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday afternoon to approve a plan to double residents' water and sewage bills over the next 10 years, starting in May with an immediate 10% increase. The plan to use higher water and sewer bills to pay for a water system upgrade, replacing thousands of miles of pipes and other equipment, has been in the works for years. Over the past few months, DeKalb County has seen a number of large water main breaks, including a recent one in Brookhaven that left thousands without water for several days. In the aftermath, and while repairs were underway, newly elected DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochrane-Johnson pushed for a rate hike to pay for it. Now, the county commission has approved the plan, with a 10% rate hike for the county's residents coming soon, following by another nine 10% annual increases through 2034. Over 10 years, with a 10% increase per year, DeKalb County residents' water bills will literally double. For customers currently averaging a bill of about $50, that means next month will be about $55 instead, as an example. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: DeKalb County leaders to vote on 10-year water, sewer rate hike Tuesday DeKalb Co. residents could soon pay more for water service DeKalb County water crews fix the latest of several water main breaks in the last month DeKalb Co. commissioners discuss 10% per year water rate increases [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
