Elected Republican officials in a conservative Michigan county who gave themselves bonuses totalling $65,000 with federal Covid-19 relief funds said they would return the money following days of criticism.<\/p>\n
The Shiawassee county commissioners acted after a prosecutor said the payments were illegal, the Argus-Press reported.<\/p>\n
The Michigan state constitution bars additional compensation for elected officials after services had already been rendered, prosecutor Scott Koerner said.<\/p>\n
The commissioners voted on 15 July to award themselves $65,000 as part of a plan to give $557,000 to 250 county employees as hazard pay for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The smallest amounts for recipients were $1,000 to $2,000. But the chairman of the county board, Jeremy Root, got $25,000. Two commissioners received $10,000 each, while four received $5,000 each.<\/p>\n
The vote was 6-0 with one commissioner absent.<\/p>\n
The commissioners awarded money to other elected officials, including the prosecutor, the sheriff and the county clerk all Republicans too. They also said they would give it back.<\/p>\n
Since these payments were made, confusion about the nature of these funds has run rampant, a statement said.<\/p>\n
[We] deeply regret that this gesture has been misinterpreted, and have unanimously decided to voluntarily return the funds to the county, pending additional guidance from the state of Michigan.<\/p>\n
One commissioner, Marlene Webster, insisted she had no idea she had voted to pay herself. She returned the money last week, posting a copy of the check on Facebook. She criticized the latest statement, saying there was no misinterpretation.<\/p>\n
Thats an insult to the citizens of Shiawassee county, Webster said.<\/p>\n
Two Michigan congressmen, a Democrat and a Republican, said federal virus aid was not intended to reward elected officials.<\/p>\n
A judge set a hearing for Monday in a lawsuit aimed at rescinding bonuses for the officials, filed before the latest action.<\/p>\n
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Michigan Republicans will return Covid relief funds used to pay own bonuses - The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Elected Republican officials in a conservative Michigan county who gave themselves bonuses totalling $65,000 with federal Covid-19 relief funds said they would return the money following days of criticism. The Shiawassee county commissioners acted after a prosecutor said the payments were illegal, the Argus-Press reported. The Michigan state constitution bars additional compensation for elected officials after services had already been rendered, prosecutor Scott Koerner said Continue reading