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Some questions we hope to answer in Guilford County

Last week, we sent out questions to Guilford County Attorney Matt Mason for our story on the attorney's office and the certain increased cost that the county faces with it.

We also sent a list to interim county manager Brenda Jones Fox about the county's layoffs. Here's what we hope to find out:

The record of the decision-making process used to determine who was laid off by the county.

Here's why: In our first request for information on the layoffs, we received a copy of the county's reduction in force policy and a sample worksheet for ranking county employees in a department. But nothing was provided about the actual positions, or how the county determined they were not necessary. Nothing has been provided yet for the second layoff, either.

That documentation would give substantive evidence for cutting those positions, which were determined largely from closed budget meetings that included commissioners. That could also help shield the county from lawsuits by disgruntled former employees who may feel that they were unfarily targeted in the layoff.

In that vein, as we have noted before, elected officials making policy decisions behind closed doors without a legal reason for a closed meeting is an apparent violation of state law. See § 143‑318.10 (d).

That law helps taxpayers see what elected officials and government are doing with your money.

What is the total cost of all the salaries, minus the benefits paid out for severance packages for laid off employees, minus those who are opting for early retirement - with early retirement money paid out?

Here's why: The county says that the saved salaries would be $4.1 million. But the savings to the county, this year, could be much less when the cost of severance packages and early retirement bonuses are subtracted from the $4.1 million. And if they county can come up with a figure for the savings from cut positions, there must be some kind of work to back that up.

When we talked to Fox last week briefly at the manager search committee meeting, she said that she would have a response to our questions.

We haven't heard from the county yet.