What’s wrong with this picture - Frederick County MD Commissioners' expense accounts will go to nonprofits

Frederick News-Post: Commissioners should reach into own pockets Originally published in the Frederick News-Post July 08, 2010

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_editorial.htm?StoryID=107050&section=ed

Three of the Frederick County Commissioners recently donated $3,547 to several local charities. Normally, we'd be more excited about the generous gesture, but there is one slight problem: It wasn't their money, it was yours.

In case you missed it, Commissioners Kai Hagen and David Gray and Commissioners President Jan Gardner took unspent money from their taxpayer-funded expense accounts and then donated it to charities of their choice last week.

We're not arguing the local charities that made out in this deal aren't needy, and $3,547 certainly isn't going to break the bank… http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_editorial.htm?StoryID=107050&section=ed

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Meg Tully: Frederick County MD Commissioners' expense accounts will go to nonprofits

Originally published in the Frederick News-Post July 02, 2010 By Meg Tully News-Post Staff

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=106839#postComments

Three Frederick County Commissioners are using their expense accounts to partially offset cuts the commissioners board made to local charities earlier this year.

But one commissioner is raising objections that it's an inappropriate use of the funds.

"It infuriated me," said Commissioner Blaine Young. "I think that every nonprofit that the individuals wanted to give money to was worthy, but they needed to reach in their pocket and not the taxpayers' pocket."

The $3,500 accounts are intended to reimburse for costs such as mileage and supplies incurred by the commissioners in the performance of their duties. The commissioners president has a slightly larger account of $4,000.

Commissioners Kai Hagen and David Gray and Commissioners President Jan Gardner asked Tuesday that leftover money from their accounts be given to nonprofit organizations whose county funding was cut this year…

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=106839#postComments

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20100702 Tully FredCo BOCC exp accs will go to nonprofits

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