DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Recruitment and retention are ongoing problems for small city and county governments where budgets are tight, especially when there are larger municipalities nearby that offer more attractive compensation packages.

Elected officials are often faced with a difficult decision. Is it more cost effective for our taxpayers to provide higher salaries for employees or pay the high cost to train replacements when employees go elsewhere?

The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners decided Tuesday that providing a more competitive compensation for employees would be less costly in the long run. Commissioners voted unanimously to implement a $1.03 million compensation package that includes fringe benefits.

The last salary study was done in 2007 and implemented in 2008 but even that was compressed because that was the year the economy tanked.

The estimated annual cost to implement the study to include fringe benefits is $1,032,115. That amount is subject to change since commissioners will not vote on the 2017 budget until September.

“I know it’s difficult for commissioners to make this kind of decision, but I believe it is a positive thing,” said County Manager Stan Kelley. “Like Sheriff (Stacey) Jarrard said, the county is way behind on this and it will certainly help with recruitment and retention.”

The new package is based on a study done by Florida-based Evergreen Solutions.