Dawson County employees may have to take as many as 12 unpaid days off in 2010.

County Manager Kevin Tanner said he plans to present a list of possible furlough days for the commission to consider during its meeting Thursday.

Tanner said he is submitting the list for planning purposes, but not recommending the commission approve the schedule just yet.

“It’s important that the county staff and our courts know these dates to plan for 2010 if we have to take them,” he said.

Court calendars and meetings are set months in advance, Tanner said, so it is good practice to have the dates declared if needed.

“My recommendation is that they do not furlough in January or February, and that we revisit the issue in early March, after we have received all the revenue from 2009,” Tanner said Monday.

The commission approved five “days of rest” for employees during 2009, which saved the county about $200,000.

Among the days off were the Friday before Labor Day weekend, two days in October, and one day in both November and December.

“I realize the difficulties that many of the employees are facing and we want to make every effort to continue to run an efficient county government for our citizens and our employees,” Tanner said.

The commission’s work session, which is open to the public, is set for 4 p.m. Thursday in the G.L. Pete Gilleland chamber’s at city hall.