Knox County Commissioner Randy Smith asked Knox County Clerk Charlie Susano last night how many of his employees were making under $45,000 a year. Susano said he could count them, however, he didn’t. Smith said his point was that any employee making under $45,000 a year would have made more for the eight weeks of furlough under the unemployment CARES Act compensation and would have saved the Clerk’s salaries.

Today, I obtained the salary list. I will not identify the individuals by name, although it is public record. I am answering Commissioner Smith’s question.

There are 56 employees plus the Clerk for a total of 57 employees of this fee office.

There are 44 employees in the Knox County Circuit, Sessions and Juvenile Court Clerks office that make $45,000 or less per year.

There are 2 employees that make $45 – $55,000 a year.

There are 6 employees that make $55 – $65,000 a year.

There are 2 employees that make $65 – $75,000 a year.

There are 2 employees that make $75 – $85,000 a year.

The Clerk’s salary is $153,621.26

These are salaries and I do not believe it includes benefits.