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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > June > 04 > Entry
Combs promoting buyout restrictions in House
After a proposed, $3.8 million early retirement incentive package for 68 Butler County staffers blew up in the county commission’s face, ultimately ending the career of County Administrator Derek Conklin, state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, is trying to keep other counties from going down the same road.
Combs is proposing legislation to stiffen regulations on early retirement buyouts. “It (the bill) says that any government agency that decides to do a buyout must go and have a university that will review that plan and report back to commission on the feasibility of the plan,” Combs said.
Combs said the legislation will “help restore some confidence” in the system.
What do you think?
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Comments
By Retired Exec
June 4, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
I applaud Combs initiative and concept, but I’m not so sure about the “arbiter”. Universities may have a faculty of experts, but given that too many schools are themselves well-known for approving budgets that routinely exceed the realities of the private sector, I’m a bit suspect. Plus, we all know that once a politician, always a politician. And, if you shoot down a few of their plans at the local level, imagine what they’ll do to the schools should they make it to the state level? More importantly, will all play nice just in case? Combs would do well to consider wording that requires the formation of a panel/s of experts from a wider range of diverse, professional entities that could include a few university experts instead. Ideally, these groups would also include local business leaders from the geographic areas of study, especially since they’d have skin in the game regarding any outcomes.
By Active Citizen
June 4, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
Most universities are government agencies. Who will review their buyouts. A local panel will also have problems, particularly if the members are appointed by officials who may be trying to hand out perks. I believe a better idea would be to require an audit of the plan by the State Auditor’s office or a licensed accounting firm. The criteria for the audit must be objective, and should be defined in Mr. Comb’s proposed law.