Pros
It used to be a really good medical plan, retirement plan, and job security. Now relative job security is probably the only pro as the medical plan is not as good and retirement ditto.
Cons
Pay is super lousy. Even if you arrive with high skills and acquire more on the job, pay raises are not tied to performance. You will get the same raise as the slug who does little to nothing, and over time you will really resent that. While Huckelberry takes care of himself, he ensures those beneath him receive as little as possible. That helps justify his big salary. He has special rules that apply to him, such as he gets paid for his sick time when he leaves. All other employees leaves that on the table as the County doesn't pay out for sick time (unless you give them the first few hundred hours, and then they pay you 25% on the remainder). You will go 2-5 years without a raise, even if the cost of living escalates. The County feels there are more where you came from, so as an employee you are not valued much. The revolving door rate is very high; they just keep hiring and people keep quitting, especially when the first paycheck hits and new hires see 12% deducted as their share of the retirement plan. Then of course is your share of medical premium, before all the other deductions. If you take a job downtown, you will pay for parking on your own (no gimmees there either). There just isn't much paycheck left after all that.