DeKalb eyes unpaid holidays, furloughs, no benefits

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Unpaid holidays will likely be the first pinch DeKalb County employees will feel from the county’s $84 million deficit.

The county commission will vote on Feb. 9 to cut eight paid holidays for employees, which would save about $8 million, Commissioner Kathie Gannon said. The holidays will start with Washington's birthday and extend until Christmas.

The commission is also discussing furloughs, a four-day work week for all employees not in public safety and an early retirement program to trim the budget. Other budget cuts being considered include charging employees for their benefits and pension costs, slashing funding to Grady Memorial Hospital and cutting library money, said Commissioner Connie Stokes, chairwoman of the budget committee.

"Our goal is to eliminate the tax increase," Stokes said Tuesday.

CEO Burrell Ellis has proposed raising property taxes by 1.86 mills.