AUSTELL, Ga. — The Austell City Council decided to table a proposal to increase the salaries for councilmembers and the city’s mayor.
The proposal was up for discussion at Monday night’s meeting, according to the agenda.
Councilman Devon Myrick, who introduced the proposal, brought up the motion to table it. There is currently no timeline for when, or if, the issue will be brought back for consideration.
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Channel 2 Action News previously reported that officials wanted to increase the pay scale for certain positions “based on inflationary pressures, regional salary comparisons and the importance of attracting and retaining highly qualified civic leaders.”
Austell leaders said the cost of living in the state of Georgia had been increasing steadily for years, with a 14% rise since 2023 alone.
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“While Georgia remains more affordable than many other states, key expenses—including food, gas, energy, and housing—have escalated significantly. The lack of any adjustment to the Mayor and Council salaries during this period has effectively reduced the real income of Austell’s elected officials," the city said in a previous statement.
If the council passes the salary increases, here’s how the wages would change:
Mayor:
- Current Salary: $36,000
- Proposed Increase: $2,000
- New Salary: $38,000
Councilmembers:
- Current Salary: $14,400
- Proposed Increase: $4,000
- New Salary: $18,400
The vote to increase salaries for city leaders also comes just weeks after the council approved a nearly 160% increase in property taxes to residents.
Mayor Ollie Clemons told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that the increased property tax would help get the city out of a long-running deficit.
“Raising taxes isn’t popular. We’ve been kicking the can down the road, if you will, probably even proceeding me. Now it’s just time to do something about it,” Clemons said previously.
According to city officials, the increase would amount to roughly $595 more per year for a home with a fair market value of $299,000.
Separate from the proposed increases for the mayor and city council members, Clemons told Newell city employees would also get a wage increase in the new city budget.
WSB Radio contributed to this report.
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