DETROIT -- More than a dozen staff members of late city councilwoman Kay Everett are still employed nearly two months after her death, which could cost taxpayers money, the Rescue 4 Waste Watchers reported.

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The exact cost to taxpayers is not known, but is a six-figure amount, according to the reports.

Fourteen of Everett's (pictured, left) employees -- six full-time and eight part-time -- had their contracts approved by Detroit City Council before her Nov. 25 death. The contract to the hourly employees -- who have no benefits -- expires on June 30, at the end of the city's fiscal year, according to Local 4.

The contract also states that they are "at-will" employees and can be dismissed anytime, Rescue 4 reported.

"The work continues even though she is not here," said Council President Maryann Mahaffey.

Mahaffey said it would be unethical to let the employees go.

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"It's not their fault that she died," said Mahaffey.

Sources told the Rescue 4 Waste Watchers that at least two of Everett's employees -- LaWanda Hails Ruffin and SaDorvia Carter -- had their contracts approved by city council in December, which was a month after Everett's death.

When it was suggested that payments to the staff members were a waste of taxpayer money, Mahaffey said she believed the money was justified.

"It's not a waste in terms of representing people. It's not a waste in terms of the work that needs to be done," said Mahaffey.

Rescue 4 Waste Watchers have been sifting through possible misspending since Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick proposed budget cuts and layoffs in an effort to get the city of Detroit out of a deficit. The city faces a $214 million projected budget shortfall for next year.