ATLANTA, GA -- On Wednesday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced the city will raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next two fiscal years. The move will initially start with an increase to $13 an hour in fiscal year 2018, which starts July 1.

The Atlanta City Council also approved four additional compensation actions as amendments to the $2.1 billion 2018 budget, which passed unanimously. Taken together, these five compensation actions affect one-third of the city's workforce, all of whom will see a pay change effective July 1. Atlanta's commitment to $15 per hour will impact another 10 percent of employees. Workers in all departments at grades 19 and above who make less than $150,000 per year will receive a three percent salary increase.



The city will also spend $2 million in general fund dollars to establish a three-tier payment structure for recruits and firefighters within the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, bringing the starting salary for recruits to $40,000 annually. The new funding structure affects 441 firefighters and recruits. The salary is set prior to including any credentials or educational incentives. This amendment was also adopted unanimously. Finally, the Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta Fire Rescue will offer a $5,000 one-time bonus for new hires with prior military service and honorable discharge or continued active service through the reserves.

"With this action, we are demonstrating that the city of Atlanta offers competitive employment at all levels, and respects the dignity of all workers," Mayor Reed said. "I am also pleased to raise the starting salary for our firefighters, who set the standard for professional fire departments in our state." The city worked with Atlanta Jobs with Justice, a local nonprofit organization, in setting the new minimum wage, which affects 360 employees immediately and will affect more than 850 employees once the full increase is phased in.

"The fight for $15 came to Atlanta through our organization, supporting fast food workers fighting for a livable wage," said Shannan Reaze, executive director of Atlanta Jobs with Justice. "The courage of those workers told us that Georgia workers everywhere were ready for $15. We are excited to see Atlanta restore its promise to living wages, because more than 1,000 individuals will be pulled out of poverty from this action. It is critical on this day that we show the nation that the South is committed to progress, workers and living wages."

Since Mayor Reed took office in January 2010, public safety personnel and city employees have received 11 salary increases totaling more than $26 million in compensation. In January 2011, Atlanta firefighters and sworn police officers received a full step pay increase of 3.5 percent, the first full step increase granted since 2007. In 2013, sworn personnel received two additional pay increases, for a total of 5.5 percent in increases.

Reed's administration also eliminated furloughs and layoffs citywide, built the largest fire department to date and eliminated staffing shortages on fire trucks, brought the city's police force to 2,000 officers for the first time in the department's history, and restored command staff at the city jail. Earlier this year, the mayor also made the city of Atlanta the first local government in the state to offer up to six weeks' paid parental leave for primary caregivers and up to two weeks for secondary caregivers.