Inside Track
County Officials Vote Themselves Bonuses From COVID-19 Relief
While millions of Americans remain unemployed, commissioners of a Michigan county voted themselves and other county employees thousands of dollars in “hazard pay” out of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
On July 15, Shiawassee County commissioners voted unanimously (except for one absent commissioner) to distribute American Rescue Plan Act money to county officials and employees. That cash was intended to help businesses and local governments weather the storm caused by government overreaction to the virus.
As WILX-TV reported July 21, “The average payment for each employee was $2,100.” The minimum payment was $1,000, though commissioners and other officials received many times that, reported the Associated Press July 22. Board of Commissioners Chairman Jeremy Root, County Administrator Brian Boggs, and Sheriff Brian BeGole received $25,000 each. County Prosecutor Scott Koerner raked in half that. Commissioners John Plowman and Brandon Marks snagged $10,000 each, while the other commissioners, except Root, got $5,000 apiece.
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