CEO Thurmond Approves $1,500 Retention Bonus for Employees

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond approved a $1,500 retention bonus for the county’s 6,000 employees in time for the holidays.

“Our employees are DeKalb County’s most valuable asset,” CEO Thurmond said. “Their commitment, dedication and hard work during some of the toughest times in DeKalb’s history have been invaluable.”

Eligible DeKalb employees received the $1,500 one-time retention incentive in November.

CEO Thurmond and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners have authorized several bonuses, pay raises and pandemic-era overtime since 2020, including:

• April 2023:
  • Starting salary for police recruits was increased to $55,000 and $51,000 for fire recruits.
  • The minimum wage for county employees was increased to $17 per hour, up from $15 per hour.
• April 2022—Public safety employees received a $3,000 one-time retention incentive payment.
• In November 2022—Non-frontline employees received a $1,000 retention incentive. 
• August 2021—$2,000 one-time retention incentive payment to employees.