Austell employees are receiving pay increases effective Sept. 18 when the City Council approved them.

Based upon their position and seniority, the city’s Finance Director Denise Soesbee told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that public safety officials will earn $2 to $4 more per hour.

City officials are “hoping to hire and retain good people” by making salaries of police officers and firefighters competitive with other jurisdictions, she added.

Also effective Sept. 18, all other city employees are receiving a five percent salary increase, Soesbee said.

Funding is from the city’s gas revenues and tax collections, she added.