TIFTON — The city council approved pay adjustments for Tifton’s public safety departments at its recent meeting.

Council members greenlit a salary increase for city police officers and a pay incentive program for public safety employees during their March 18 meeting, much to the gratitude of the respective departments.

With these adjustments, starting pay will be raised to $22 an hour for certified officers and $20 for officers in the police academy; officers below the rank of major will receive a $3 pay increase; EMT, CERT public safety employees will receive an annual stipend of $2,000 and $1,000, respectively; and bilingual public safety workers will receive an additional $0.25 an hour.

Police Chief Steve Hyman and Fire Chief Bobby Bennett both stressed the need for these pay bumps at the previous council meeting. Hyman reported that the police department was finding it difficult to maintain staff or recruit new employees, while Bennett hoped the new incentives would serve as ample compensation for what the target employees do for the community.

Following the decision, Hyman thanked the council members for their support of and commitment to Tifton’s public safety workers.

“You have ensured that our departments have the resources and support to carry out our duties effectively,” Hyman said. “It’s appreciated more than you will ever know; thank you for having our backs and prioritizing public safety in our community.”

The approved pay adjustments are expected to be implemented as soon as the end of the month.