Craig Daily Press / On pins and needles

Archive for Thursday, December 11, 2003

December 11, 2003

Moffat County Commissioners face a tough task this week -- which valued county employees will be unemployed by Christmas?

Senior citizen plowing, community swimming pools, the local library, television service, worker's compensation and employee benefits have all been the topic of the great budget debate. But what goes and what stays isn't clear.

Commissioners initially voted to eliminate sick pay benefits to those county employees who don't use the sick time, but are later reimbursed for that accrued time. But the squeaky wheel gets the grease and long-time county employees got their benefits back. One down, many to go. So what's next?

Inevitably, the commissioners must choose which personnel are essential and who they can do without. A tough choice in a market where jobs aren't plentiful and long-time employees may be at risk.

The real problem lies within employee morale. Many employees know that their position may be the one to be cut, but mum is the word with county officials.

It's hard enough to make ends meet in a tough economy. It's much harder to have a job today, but be looking for one tomorrow. Oh, and you can't interview this week because your future employer is enjoying the Christmas holiday with his family.