$127K Paid to Former Police Chief

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   A report says local Ohio governments pay out millions of dollars each year to retiring employees for accrued sick leave and vacation time that was never taken.

Elected officials say the payouts are troubling but likely can't be eliminated, while public employees say they've earned the money and saved taxpayers by not taking time off work.

The Middletown Journal reports Thursday (http://bit.ly/zKHPbd ) that local governments paid out more than $5 million to departing employees, including $1.7 million in Butler County and just over $1 million in Warren County.

The newspaper says this includes $127,262 for Middletown's former police chief.

Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon says the payouts hurt governments in the long run because employees are reimbursed at their highest salary rate.

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Middletown News Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Apr 29 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote Middletown News Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: $127K Paid to Former Police Chief Posted: Mar 01 2012 at 11:44am
	A report says local Ohio governments pay out millions of dollars each year to retiring employees for accrued sick leave and vacation time that was never taken. Elected officials say the payouts are troubling but likely can't be eliminated, while public employees say they've earned the money and saved taxpayers by not taking time off work. The Middletown Journal reports Thursday (http://bit.ly/zKHPbd ) that local governments paid out more than $5 million to departing employees, including $1.7 million in Butler County and just over $1 million in Warren County. The newspaper says this includes $127,262 for Middletown's former police chief. Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon says the payouts hurt governments in the long run because employees are reimbursed at their highest salary rate.
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TonyB Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Jan 12 2011 Location: Middletown, OH Status: Offline Points: 631	Post Options Post Reply Quote TonyB Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar 01 2012 at 5:44pm
	You mean to tell me that no one knew about this? Certainly elected officials knew. I would argue that public employees are not saving taxpayers money by not taking time off work. Vacation pay is time paid while not working. The taxpayer is not getting any work for the payout you're taking plus you got paid for doing the job at the time. How is there any savings there? Elected officials say they "likely" can't be eliminated? Sounds like something that could be negotiated to me.