“Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws,” stated Deal.

Governor Nathan Deal introduced a major law enforcement reform package which includes compensation pay raises and a multi-phase training overhaul for state officers.

Phase 1 of the training overhaul will include continuing education, training on the use of force, and building positive community relations. Phase 2 involves expansion of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) which equips officers with the knowledge and skills to approach individuals with mental illness. Phase 3 will involves the creation of a task for to review current law enforcement training and proved recommendations for improvement.

Governor Deal emphasized that the state should put its money where the priorities are. “It is incumbent upon the government to recruit and retain the best and brightest, while equipping them with the training and resources they require. They deserve our unwavering commitment and support.”

More than 3,300 state law enforcement officers will receive a 20 percent pay raise effective January 1, 2017, and represents more than $78 million instate funding in the amended FY17 and FY 18 budget.

Agency Heads and Fiscal Officers:

The Governor’s budget reports will be available as PDF documents on the OPB website opb.georgia.gov on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 9:00 AM.

OPB has teamed with DOAS and IKON to make available bound copies of the full report through the DOAS Document Solution Service Center located in the Sloppy Floyd Building.  Agencies and the public can purchase hard copies of the reports through the service center.  The cost of the Amended FY 2015 budget report is $10.00.  The cost of the FY 2016 budget report is $15.00.  Payment may be made by cash, P-Card or credit card.  No checks will be accepted.

Those interested in pre-ordering printed copies of the Governor’s budget reports may send an email to the following address: TwinTowers@IKON-DSSC.com

Your email should include contact information and the number of copies of the Amended FY 2015 and FY 2016 budget reports you want to order; IKON Print Center staff will contact you in return to arrange payment and pick up.  Pre-ordered copies of the reports may be picked up at the DOAS Document Solution Center in the Sloppy Floyd Building beginning Friday, January 16, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.  Agencies can purchase as many copies as needed.

The Georgia CommuteSmart initiative comes from an Executive Order from Governor Nathan Deal’s office and encourages expanded use of commute options and flexible work scheduling for eligible state employees.

 

Using flexible scheduling to expand beyond the traditional work schedule will enhance the productivity and efficiency of our state team and lighten the burden congestion places on the private-sector economy. Empowering workers to choose alternatives to driving alone on trips to and from work is also proven to enhance productivity and improve morale, as well as attract and retain talent.

Get more by driving less:

Each state agency should implement one or more of the following options:

• Scheduling shifts to avoid peak traffic times
• Compressing the 40-hour work week into fewer, longer workdays to reduce commuting
• Teleworking at home or another approved location
• Using alternatives to driving alone, such as carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit, biking or walking

Telework and Compressed Work Week Guidance:

Georgia Commute Options offers expert assistance to state agencies at no cost, including:

• Determining how to best improve your bottom-line (facilities, parking, energy, etc.)
• Working with agencies to implement or expand programs
• Providing guidance on assessing jobs and individuals compatible with alternative work arrangements
• Training for teleworkers and their managers
• Program evaluation and reporting

Data Collecting:

Employees are encouraged to log their alternative commute trips at a website created for state agencies. By logging their commutes, employees become eligible for cash incentives, and agencies can get reports of their employees’ program participation and environmental impact.

If you’re an agency coordinator, please contact Georgia Commute Options directly to learn more about these free services available to your team:

Lettie Ongie, State Agency Account Manager
LettieO@GaCommuteOptions.com
404-807-6733