Lexington’s city council has given preliminary approval to a resolution asking state lawmakers to grant the local government the ability to furlough employees.
Council Member Preston Worley stressed it’s not an effort to target city workers. “This is asking for the opportunity, if in the worst case scenario we have to reduce the size of this government by its employees, we have the ability to bring those folks back as soon as possible and do as little economic harm to them as possible,” said Worley.
Council Member Chuck Ellinger said currently the only option to reduce the size of the workforce is through letting employees go. Under that process Ellinger noted those employees couldn’t be re-hired for a year. Ellinger added Fayette is the only county not granted the furloughing option.
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