Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger speaks during the County Commission meeting after releasing his 2011-12 fiscal budget that included laying off 37 people.Ten of the 36 Hamilton County workers laid off in this year’s budget cycle have been rehired in other county positions.
In July, the Hamilton County Commission approved about $13 million in budget cuts, ending several programs and cutting funding for the employees who administered them. The three dozen layoffs came after the expiration of a 45-year sales tax sharing agreement with Chattanooga that would have provided more than $10 million to the county this year.
The rehired workers were able to fill other county positions, particularly jobs that did not require a highly specialized skill set or a professional license, Mayor Jim Coppinger said.
Though this year’s cuts were deep, Coppinger said they were necessary to prevent future tax increases.
“We made real tough decisions this year,” he said. “We cut a little more than we had to so we don’t have to do it again next year.”