$1K Bonuses For State Employees, Governor Announces

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp announced on Wednesday that state workers will be receiving $1,000 bonus checks.

“We have made tough decisions to protect lives and livelihoods, and those early decisive actions are now paying off,” Kemp said at a press conference Wednesday. “And you can certainly see that with today’s announcement.”

Budget managers in the Georgia State House worked with Kemp and Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan to set aside $59.6 million for the one-time bonus that would go to most state workers making under $80,000 a year, House Speaker David Ralston said.

“This will cover some 57,000 state employees across most state agencies,” Ralston said.

He listed Georgia State Troopers, state food inspectors, and caseworkers for the state Department of Family and Child Services, among other state workers, and pointed out that exceptions for agencies like the State Board of Regents likely would be covered by internal surpluses.

This announcement comes after Kemp said in the State of the State that he wanted to direct $1,000 bonus checks to teachers across Georgia.

“Our state employees have worked incredibly hard despite the global pandemic,” Kemp said. “They have been going above and beyond the call of duty to deliver essential services to our most vulnerable, keeping our businesses open, and deliver financial assistance to those who quite honestly many days were losing hope.

“With the $1,000 supplement, I believe we’re doing our part as state leaders to say ‘thank you’ for all you’ve done and to prioritize the people who’ve made it possible for Georgia to be the top stop in the country for doing business.”