Memphis, TN (abc24.com) - The City of Memphis recently hired a consulting company to help it figure out how to offer sanitation workers a multi-million dollar buyout without drastically cutting back city services.
In late June 2011, the Memphis City Council voted to offer sanitation workers a $13 million buyout. At the time, the Council said it hoped to have all the details sorted out by July 1st.
"Clearly, the easy part was just handing out the buyout," said George Little, Memphis City Administrator.
The city estimates nearly a third of the sanitation department is interested in a buyout, which would pay between $40,000-$60,000 based on seniority.
Little told abc24.com the city recently hired a consulting company to help the city figure out how to offer the buyout without cutting back on trash services.
"As currently funded, up to 220 sanitation workers could participate in a buyout program which could significantly impact our ability to deliver services," said Little.
"To hear the city is coming up with money for an outside consultant stings, and kind of rings hollow for a lot of people," said Chad Johnson, with AFSCME Local 1733, which represents sanitation workers.
Little told abc24.com he expects the consulting group to have a report about the buyout by January or February, 2012.
