By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – 6 News has learned Knox County Commission never passed a resolution on how to handle a training program for county workers or pay bonuses for it.
Controversy has followed the C-TAS training, from the Trustee's office to the Register of Deeds Office and questions seem to extend to the very core of the program.
The C-TAS program provides counties with a resolution that allows them to set a defined bonus amount.
But according to the Knox County Law Director's Office, commission never passed this resolution.
"That's a surprise and a disappointment to me. So let's get with the law director and move forward with this," said Commissioner R. Larry Smith, who's been vocal about revamping the C-TAS incentive program.
County Law Director Joe Jarret says according to the code, they didn't have to pass anything. "The code makes no mention of a mandatory enabling resolution," he explained.
But the resolution may have prevented the differences in bonuses across the various fee offices.
Presently, it's up to the discretion of the office holder to set the amount for bonuses. They range from the Register of Deeds giving out $1,500 bonuses to the Criminal Clerk's office $1,700 to the trustee's office handing out the maximum of $3,000.
"Let's just be fair with everybody. If we decide to do it, then let's come up with a set bonus amount, or if we decide not to do it, but it needs to be fair across the board," Smith said.
And according to the same Tennessee Code, 5-1-310, "In any county providing such an incentive, the county mayor shall provide to the state treasurer the amount of any educational incentive paid and the number of persons receiving such an incentive."
But according to Mayor Tim Burchett's office, they have not submitted anything since he took office.
"This will be the first year and we will provide the state with those numbers of how many and I assume who and how much they were paid," Mayor Burchett explained.
When asked why it has never been done before, the mayor said, "It wasn't asked of us."
Former Knox County Finance Director John Troyer, who worked with the previous administration, also said he didn't recall sending any reports to the state.
But a spokesperson for the state Treasurer's Office said they do request those reports. "We request them each year and even follow up with a letter. But honestly, we have no authority if they don't send in a report," Blake Fontenay explained.
