S.L. County studying its tuition controversy

Another thing the audit criticized was the fact that three merit employees (not regular county employees but appointed by county officials) were not required to pay back tuition funds. McGowan points out that the policy automatically excludes merit employees from paying back funds if they are let go within a year after the funds are paid, but concedes that the three did not fall into that situation and had their payments waived by commissioners or former mayor Nancy Workman (though Workman herself says she doesn't recall taking that action).

McGowan names the three as Mindy Nelson, who worked for then-commissioner Brent Overson; Julie Peck, former head of community and support services and currently aide to Councilman Mark Crockett; and Dave Johnson, aide to then-councilman Wendell Wilkinson.

McGowan says his office is implementing some of the audit's recommendations, and taking advantage of a delayed billing program many universities offer. In particular, he said the program is being converted to tuition reimbursement, in which employees pay up front and then are reimbursed upon successful completion of the classes, instead of up-front assistance.

"I'm glad the audit took place," he said in an interview. "I'm glad we were able to find weaknesses in the system. These were things we didn't know about, frankly."

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