Montgomery County plans to reinstitute its embattled tuition assistance program this week with new rules to address some of questionable classes that were previously paid for by taxpayers.
The county will pay for employees to take only classes that are related to their current jobs and will no longer pay for classes that are “primarily recreational,” “utilize a specific faith-based method as a primary approach to problem solving or treatment” and are outside of the United States.
County officials suspended the tuition assistance program in September after The Examiner detailed a number of questionable classes, including Spanish instruction in Costa Rica, “hot yoga” classes, and $1,000 sailing lessons.
Taxpayers also have footed the bill for county employees to take religious courses that emphasize memorizing Bible verses or New Age retreats that teach “bioenergetic” classes.
Previously, the county would pay up to $1,730 a year for courses that were related to an employee’s current job or any future job with the county. The new rules limit courses that are related to an employee’s current or “career ladder” in the same profession.
Councilman Phil Andrews, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the lack of oversight of the tuition assistance program, said he was pleased with the new restrictions.
“It’s an improvement,” he said, but added that he doubts the cash-strapped county will be able to afford paying for the tuition assistance program next year.
The new rules are part of an agreement between the county and the union that represents most county government employees, the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization, according to an e-mail sent to county officials by Director of Human Resources Joseph Adler.
The program is still closed to police or firefighter union members, who operate under different labor agreements. Fraternal Order of Police union past President Walt Bader faulted county administrators for not enforcing existing rules, and said new rules aren’t needed. The FOP has filed a grievance with the county for suspending the program.
“The management side is broken, there’s nothing broken with our contract,” Bader said.
The tuition program came under fire in July after Sheriff Raymond Kight told county officials that public funds may have subsidized the price of handguns and sniper rifles sold to hundreds of public safety officials.
Both the county attorney and the inspector general continue to investigate.
