Every DeKalb County employee’s duties will be scrutinized to determine if they are worth having a job.

The County Commission decided Thursday to hire an outside agency to conduct a desk audit. The first audit will be in the courts and public safety departments, which have the most staff, commissioners said.

Last month, the Commission voted to cut $33.6 million from the 2011 budget, but they have been reluctant to cut staff.

“We want outside independent people looking at this. I want to make it clear that we are not on a witch hunt,” Commissioner Elaine Boyer said.