|
|
|
Eastern Jackson County, MO —
Jackson County has been able to avert dozens of layoffs thanks to incentives that allowed employees to take early retriement, County Executive Mike Sanders said Monday.
“Absolutely remarkable,” Sanders told county legislators.
Two weeks ago, the county executive and county prosecutor had outlined how the loss of $4.1 million in state funding would translate to 39 jobs – 22 in the Assessment Department, 14 in the Family Support Division in the prosecutor’s office and three sheriff’s deputies assigned to family-support work. Sanders said the county would offer early-resignation incentives – although retirement benefits themselves cannot be altered – but he held out little hope of that significantly easing the need to cut people as of Jan. 1.
It didn’t go that way. Eighteen of the 22 in the assessment office took the deal; another three positions are probationary. Result: One job cut. Thirteen of the 14 in family support did the same, and so did two of the three deputies. The third deputy will be reassigned to patrol in Eastern Jackson County.
The effect is that the positions will still be eliminated – and Sanders says that could affect service levels – but most of those affected are able to leave on their own terms.
“We could offer that incentive. It wouldn’t break the bank, so to speak,” Sanders said.
Sanders has said he expects more state cuts to affect the county in the future. He said the early-retirement incentives might have to be looked at again.
“I think this is a great tool,” he said.
Jackson County has been able to avert dozens of layoffs thanks to incentives that allowed employees to take early retriement, County Executive Mike Sanders said Monday.
“Absolutely remarkable,” Sanders told county legislators.
Two weeks ago, the county executive and county prosecutor had outlined how the loss of $4.1 million in state funding would translate to 39 jobs – 22 in the Assessment Department, 14 in the Family Support Division in the prosecutor’s office and three sheriff’s deputies assigned to family-support work. Sanders said the county would offer early-resignation incentives – although retirement benefits themselves cannot be altered – but he held out little hope of that significantly easing the need to cut people as of Jan. 1.
It didn’t go that way. Eighteen of the 22 in the assessment office took the deal; another three positions are probationary. Result: One job cut. Thirteen of the 14 in family support did the same, and so did two of the three deputies. The third deputy will be reassigned to patrol in Eastern Jackson County.
The effect is that the positions will still be eliminated – and Sanders says that could affect service levels – but most of those affected are able to leave on their own terms.
“We could offer that incentive. It wouldn’t break the bank, so to speak,” Sanders said.
Sanders has said he expects more state cuts to affect the county in the future. He said the early-retirement incentives might have to be looked at again.
“I think this is a great tool,” he said.
