PORTERDALE, Ga. – Police officers in Porterdale will make more money after a Monday vote by the city council to raise starting pay by $1 an hour.

The move will boost starting pay for an uncertified trainee to $16.56 an hour with certified rookie cops with no experience now making $17.56 per hour. Starting pay for experienced officers can be higher based on their experience, training and education.

The vote came after a presentation last month by Chief Jason Cripps showing Porterdale lagging behind after several surrounding jurisdictions increased pay for their officers. The city will move to raise police pay an additional $1 per hour in July.

Council members also voted to accept a $277,500 bid from EcoSync Construction to convert the old city hall into the new police headquarters. The EcoSync bid was the lowest of four bids received for the project.

The council had approved the design concept for the new headquarters last June. When it’s completed, the new facility will nearly quadruple the amount the space the department is currently working out of from approximately 650 square feet to approximately 2,500 square feet. It will include a meeting room and kitchenette, along with a locker room and shower for officers and separate male and female restrooms.

The construction bid does not include costs for a card entry system, security cameras and alarm system, an emergency generator or furniture and appliances which will increase the total cost of the project. The new headquarters will be paid for using funds from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

Cripps said his department hopes to move into its new building by late spring or early summer.