Mayor Glenn Jacobs announced a Furlough program three weeks before implementing it on May 9. According to the announcement the employees will continue working through May 8.
At first glance it appears the Mayor is shifting the payroll dollars for these employees to the State and Federal government. “Furloughed employees will continue to receive health coverage and other benefits from Knox County in addition to up to $275 per week from the State of Tennessee and $600 from the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relieve and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for a total of up $875 per week while unemployed.” It does not appear to be a very libertarian effort of the Mayor. He has been described as a Republican with libertarian leanings and beliefs. He hasn’t been a fan of the Federal Government and has been tweeting about how the economy has to be opened back up. While the state and federal government are planning a May 1 phased open, Knox County will furlough what appears to be several hundred, nine days later.
When this was announced I thought a number of employees were already known. Apparently, the number of employees have NOT been identified yet. It is apparently a dollar amount which is believed to be around $2.5 million.
Consider this, I am told the state runs two months behind on sale tax collection revenue. The February 2020 sales tax revenue isn’t known yet, if that’s the case. March 2020 sales tax revenue should be normal up to an increase with all the hoarding that went on, which means we are only 17 days into April when the Mayor announced his furlough program.
How about the dollars used during the previous Mayoral administration (under the same Finance Director) where a credit card was used to purchase computers and computer equipment (which is the subject of pending litigation) or the employment of a close friend of the Finance Director where the Finance Director signed the time cards with no work product or emails could be produced?
What about that money that Knox County just spent on purchasing Summer Place a parking garage and building and the move of the Knox County Schools Central Office to the TVA East Tower? Not such a great idea now, huh?
How about last year, when Knox County offered the early buy out for Knox County employees and Knox County School Teachers?In hindsight that doesn’t look like such a great idea I am assuming.
The damage to the mental condition of these employees facing being furloughed to shift a couple million dollars from local to state and federal responsibility has not (in my humble opinion) been fully considered.
Is the millionaire Mayor Jacobs still drawing a county salary? If so, then why? Why doesn’t Jacobs donate his salary like President Trump does? Jacobs owns three businesses in this county. Are their doors open for business? Inquiring minds want to know.