Sheriff Gives Pay Raises To Niece, Friends After Layoffs

[OhioChick]

10:02 am EST January 4, 2009

CLEVELAND -- The sheriff of Ohio's largest county has given pay raises to his niece, his son's best friend and one of his own friends after laying off 21 employees from their jobs.

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul gave the employees raises of $7,000 each. Four other employees were also given raises.

McFaul defended the moves Saturday, saying the raises were given based on merit and on the advice of his top subordinates.

County officials need to cut $55 million from a $586 million operating budget. Every office and agency was told to trim their budgets.

The sheriff's office is the only county agency to lay off employees so far.

County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones said McFaul may have to explain why he gave raises to employees with personal connections.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/18408421/detail.html

Corruption is everywhere. :mad:

[aquart]

1. "May"????

"may have to explain"?????

[el_bryanto]

2. If he followed a documented procedure that might be enough

I mean while I agree they shouldn't be rewarded for being related to the Sherrif neither should they be punished.

Bryant

[melm00se]

5. while it may appear improper

(may? hell it looks pretty fricking improper) but if the rules were followed then you can't really punish him/her/them...all you can do is change the rules (but then be prepared for the repercussions of that somewhere down the road).

[OhioChick]

3. Bunch of BS, isn't it? n/t

[Azlady]

4. Okay -

So with all that said, the county has to cut $55 million from their budget.... wouldn't pay raises be the first thing to stop? How serious is the county about cutting their budget, trying to save jobs, if they do not stop pay raises first. Then of course they need to look at the family issue.

[ihavenobias]

6. Wow.

It's sad and it's ubiquitous.