County tuition probe warranted

As a job benefit, a tuition assistance program is a plum. Salt Lake County's program pays 75 percent of a county employee's tuition costs if they attend an accredited college or university, up to $3,000 a year. Participants are expected to earn a "C" grade or better in classes related to their jobs or aimed at earning an associate or bachelor's degree in a field from which the county would seek to hire graduates.

But unlike other governmental bodies and private businesses that offer a similar benefit, Salt Lake County has provided the tuition money up-front. Some people have taken the money and not completed the classes. Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has called for reforms in how the county program is run. The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office has launched a criminal investigation into the matter.

Corroon and District Attorney David Yocom are commended for their hands-on approach to yet more allegations of possible misuse of county funds. While the abuse does not appear to be rampant thus far in the probe, it is troubling that the county's tuition assistance program has had such lax oversight. Seemingly, reimbursing employees for the tuition upon the completion of their coursework would encourage employees to take their studies more seriously. People who did not complete their coursework or earn the required grades could not receive assistance from the county.

Sadly, this is another black eye for Salt Lake County, which has attempted to reform how it operates following a scandal involving its travel- and gas-reimbursement program. It should be noted that these scandals predate Corroon's administration.

Obviously, investigators need to get to the bottom of this issue. At a minimum, people who have pocketed tuition assistance funds after dropping college classes need to reimburse taxpayers. It is up to prosecutors whether tuition cheats will also face criminal charges.

It is difficult to understand why any employee would jeopardize his own employment and, possibly, an entire county benefit program, by pocketing money earmarked for college tuition. Worse yet are those employees who were delinquent in repaying what was tantamount to an "interest-free loan."

Any government employee who receives tuition assistance must be ever mindful that they're attending college on the taxpayer's dime. Taxpayers expect honesty from employees who seek tuition assistance and an even greater degree of accountability from government leaders to ensure these funds are used for their intended purpose.