By HARLOW SUMERFORD
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Knox County Commissioner Elaine Davis says county workers need more protection in case of job cuts.
She says workers have little job security and qualified employees are possibly being let go.
Davis is hoping to help put a civil service merit system in place.
"This addresses some of those changes in regard to cronyism and helps protect employees. I've heard a lot of people come up to me quietly because of fear of retaliation and say I'm glad you brought this up," Davis says.
County employees can be fired without cause, but the merit system would change that.
It's mainly focused on fee offices, where department heads are elected and can hire who they want.
"That is one of the benefits of the merit system. In the event that your candidate did lose, you would still retain your job and that's the way it should be," says Fred Sisk, candidate for County Trustee.
Sisk isn't opposed to the idea, but questions whether it's necessary. He says there are no examples of mass firings.
The city of Knoxville already has a civil services merit system.
Cost is one of the arguments against the county adopting such a system. There would be expenses for the testing and the staffing.
Some estimate the cost could be between $400,000 and $1 million.
"We heard it could cost up to $900,000 a year to have civil service protection for employees. I just haven't heard from employees saying we need that. I think they would rather have pay raises or the money go to education," says Commissioner Scott Moore.
Commission approved the idea of a civil service merit system on first reading.
If the measure passes on second reading, the issue would go to voters on the November ballot.
"This addresses some of those changes in regard to cronyism and helps protect employees. I've heard a lot of people come up to me quietly because of fear of retaliation and say I'm glad you brought this up," Commissioner Davis says.
