Knox County is offering employees with years of service a buy out aka work reduction plan. This was last offered 18 months ago and 79 employees took it. Now it is being offered to 900 plus employees, after Knox County Commission approved it tonight. The deal is the department heads have to not replace the positions that are reduced within three years. In my opinion, this is an admission that the employees are not needed, non essential. Instead of rewarding them for leaving with golden parachute bonuses. Just let them take a normal retirement.