Chattooga County sheriff threatens layoffs - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GA (Times Free Press) -- Employees at the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office and jail are scared after reading a memo asking half the patrol force and multiple jailers to give up their jobs voluntarily.

Outgoing Sheriff John Everett claims in the memo that the sole commissioner is forcing him to lay off 16 employees -- 11 from the sheriff's office and five jailers -- because of a county-wide deficit in property tax revenue.

The memo went up Friday, and a jail employee, who wouldn't give a name in fear of being fired, said employees panicked. The memo was taken down on Monday, the employee said.

Read more on the story from our news partners at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.