New County policy brings consequences for improper firing
Elected officials in El Paso County could now face serious financial consequences if they fire someone without cause and the county gets sued. That’s according to a new policy Commissioner’s Court approved unanimously Monday.
Much of this is aimed at elected officials who take office and want to hire all-new people. County Judge Veronica Escobar said the new policy just clarifies and reinforces oversight the county already had. It also tries to prevent lawsuits that have cost county taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I’ve lived through those, in executive session, where you think, ‘Oh my gosh,'” Escobar said. “You know, just a brazen disregard for employment practices and the law. And then we have to pick up the tab? The taxpayer has to fix this? It’s wrong.”
The policy would affect department heads and elected officials funded by the county. If they ignore the recommendation of the county attorney, and in an important distinction added Monday — if they go against the law and fire an employee anyway, the county could take those costs out of the official’s budget or even salary for the next year.
District Clerk Norma Favela, herself an elected official under the county, told ABC-7 she is satisfied with the policy, and encourages the county to look at hiring practices.
“We’re looking at the risks that might be assessed to the taxpayer, but we’re looking at it from the end,” Favela said. “What happens at the end if an employee has to be let go, has to be asked to leave. We have to look at it from the beginning, how they come into the county.”
The county attorney said the county can’t dictate hiring practices for the staff of its elected officials, but that this firing policy is well within the county’s regulatory power.
Elected officials that ignore county advice and employment law resulting in lawsuits can expect to see the impact from the county starting with next year’s budget process.
