RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - A judge says Benton County was wrong to automatically deduct money from 85 jail officers’ paychecks who were overpaid three years ago.
The Tri-City Herald reports Benton County Superior Court Judge Sam Swanberg ruled this week that the county can’t just take the $130,000 back from the employees without first negotiating with their union.
Swanberg upheld a March 2018 decision by the Public Employee Relations Commission that Benton County must refund the money it deducted from paychecks - with interest - and negotiate repayment terms with the union.
Barring an appeal, Swanberg’s ruling ends a battle over Benton County’s attempts to recover money it accidentally paid to jail workers in 2016 because of a computer software error.
County officials declined to comment.
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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com
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