By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – More Knox County officials are sharing their take on a continuing education program for county workers.
The training offered through the County Technical Assistance Services (C-TAS) has been at the center of controversy before, with bonuses paid to trustee's office workers.
Everyone agrees the C-TAS program itself is a great opportunity for county officials, but where they seem to differ is how the incentives, or bonus portion of the program, should be handled.
"I think a good one is if you complete the program and become a certified public administrator, you would get a step increase in your salary. So I think that would be less controversial than the bonuses," said county Commissioner Amy Broyles.
As it stands, the decision about how many employees from each office and how much of a bonus they receive is up to the discretion of the office holder.
The bonus can reach up to $3,000 but for example in the register of deeds office, some employees receive only $1,500. Other offices like the county clerk do not receive any bonus.
"It's up to them to how they want to administer the program. I just choose not to take the money because I'm a fiscally responsible person, and I don't think we ought to be paying people to learn about the job especially when it comes to taxpayers' funds," explained county Clerk Foster Arnett.
Over the last two years, five of the six fee offices in Knox County handed out bonuses amounting to more than $140,000.
The mayor's office also does not extend bonuses to its employees, but Mayor Tim Burchett believes that decision should be left up to the office holders.
"We don't implement it in our office. It's up to every office holder. We don't micro-manage the other offices. They're duly elected just like me, and it's up to them to run their office as they see fit," Mayor Burchett said.
Commissioner Mike Brown agrees the program works as is, and if an office holder misuses it then the voters will hold them accountable.
"The voters when they got to polls can say, you didn't handle it right," Brown said.
Commissioners Brad Anders, Richard Briggs and R. Larry Smith agree the C-TAS courses are great, but the incentives are too high and that aspect should change.
Commissioner Smith is in the process of forming a committee to re-evaluate the C-TAS certifications. He has asked the county clerk and state Rep. Bill Dunn to take part, as well as representatives from all county offices.
