Madison County’s $1 million blame game
Potentially more than $1 million in taxes is headed out of Madison County coffers without achieving any good on anyone’s behalf. Let’s just call it a waste, and one that should have been avoidable.
That is, avoidable if the powers that be weren’t so focused on playing political “gotcha” that they allowed this fiasco involving Treasurer Kurt Prenzler and former comptroller Linda Dunnagan.
Prenzler said he received legal advice on eliminating the comptroller’s position in his office as a way to save $57,000 a year. Trouble is, he was essentially firing someone who was just out on medical leave
You can’t fire someone of a certain age or certain category without ensuring everything is documented and vetted to avoid a discrimination claim. Prenzler said he sought advice from the county’s employment lawyer.
Too bad the advice didn’t pass the smell test with either a mediator or a federal jury. Also too bad the county leaders now calling out Prenzler didn’t force a settlement or snap shut the purse if they were so sure this would go south.
Taxpayers may be on the hook for $1 million in awards and legal costs, though Prenzler said rulings yet to come could reduce that significantly. He said the $450,000 Dunnagan was awarded by a federal jury could be cut to $50,000 if a judge rules the treasurer’s office and not county government as a whole is responsible.
All of this has become grand political theater because Prenzler is challenging Alan Dunstan for county chairman.
The question is, will Madison County voters blame Prenzler for $1 million in bad judgment, or will they believe that he was trying to save money when it just went horribly wrong? Will they remember the scandal he exposed in which his predecessor, Fred Bathon, was selling delinquent property tax fees for campaign contributions?
And will anyone blame the snickering Democratic leaders who allowed this situation to transpire as well as closed their eyes to Bathon, playing their political games with the public’s money?
If you waste $1 million, there will certainly be blame to go around.
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Madison County’s $1 million blame game."