Non-Commissioned Intuition

Too much is being made of the tuition reimbursements for which Commissioner Chris Kingsley has been found to be improperly authorized by county employees who should have known better. Give the guy a break and allow Hernando County Attorney Garth Coller and his staff to wallow through the legal matters. Give Hernando County Administrator Dave Hamilton the task of implementing the correct procedures as dictated by the wording of the State Constitution. Dave hasn’t had but a few moments to catch his breath with all the challenges he has inherited since the start of his position on March 17.

There was no coercion on the part of Commissioner Kingsley to receive the authorization to seek reimbursement for the college courses he had chosen to give him better insight in effectively perform his duties for the citizens of Hernando County. Chris was quick to return the $3,682 tuition assistance moneys. There’s nothing else for him to do.

Kingsley understandably views his duties as an employee of the county. He works for the betterment of the citizens of Hernando County, but his employer is actually the State of Florida. His refusal to offer an apology is admirable. He did nothing wrong in applying for reimbursement. In light of all the other questionable decisions made by former HR Director Barbara Dupre, it’s surprising why everyone views Chris as a culprit in this matter.

It seems no sooner had Michael D. Bates reported the story in Hernando Today that Kingsley satisfied what has turned out to be a loan. His quick response shows the honesty of a responsible citizen and should be given respect rather than criticism for a situation he did not instigate.

Do you not recollect that during the budget conference held in Orlando last fall he funded his own expenses? At that time, he rightly offered no apology for what was an assumption that he had used taxpayer moneys.

Policies and procedures are often put to question only when an unfamiliar situation arises. Such is the case with tuition reimbursement. Chris was the first county commissioner to apply for the benefit. It has now been deemed inappropriate. Call it a clarification of practices.

No one can possibly have forgotten the legal battle that ensued after Rose Rocco won the popular vote for the commission in the 2006 election seat held by Nancy Robinson. Just recently the Florida Supreme Court gave the final ruling that a candidate doesn’t have to reside in the district of which a candidate is elected until the voting is validated. It took a full year and a half to resolve the issue. It was a shame that Rose was forced to seek legal council at her own expense but the matter has been resolved and never again will there be cause to question the residency issue.

In this case, the question of tuition reimbursement has been ruled a benefit not given to an elected official. Karen Nicolai, County Circuit Court Clerk, was quick to take actions to ensure her staff reviews all expenditures before authorizing any request for county funds. The checks and balances of the past were lax; they won’t be in the future.

In the words fo Benjamin Franklin, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man take take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."

"An individual's education should end only at death." So says Ron Rae.

As explained by Chris, seeking continued education is a win-win situation for the individual and a great asset to the employer as long as it pertains to the position held by the individual. Unfortunately for Chris, he must seek approval of such benefits from his real employer, the State of Florida.

I applaud Kingsley for his initiative to make his position something other than a job that doesn't require any form of education. Hernando residents are better served by a public servant knowledgable of business administration schooling. How that knowledge is used for the betterment of the county determines whether or not voters give him a passing grade point average.

This is not the time to bog him down, or any member, of the Commission with this trivial matter. In the coming weeks, county budget hearings will begin, of which must be given primary attention. This distraction is detrimental to the transition that Hernando County must make to balance the budget.

Leave him to performing his constitutional duties. Give him leave of this controversy. Let him pursue continued education at his own expense. Hernando County is deserving of his successes in schooling. He is not deserving of the criticisms laid upon him.