WHITE COUNTY, Ga. –Uncertain as to what impact the pandemic may have on county resources, the Board of Commissioners imposed a spending freeze last Spring which delayed the long-awaited cost of living allowance COLA raise for county employees.

Commission Chairman Travis Turner promised at the time the Board would consider a COLA once it knew more about the county’s financial situation.

“This is a follow-up on that promise,” Turner said as commissioners voted to approve the raise during Monday’s combined work session and called meeting.

County Finance Director Jodi Ligon told commissioners she believed there were adequate funds to cover the $255,000 needed for the increases during her monthly budget update.

“We appreciate them bearing with us,” Turner said. “We are very blessed to be in the financial shape we are as a county today and this is our way of reaching out to our employees, who are the boots on the ground, a simple way of saying thank you for your hard work.”