Osage County has started to correct missing money from county employees state retirement accounts, though it’s still on the hook for thousands in fines related to six months of late KPERS payments.
The issue started in May and KPERS Executive Director, Alan Conroy, says they reached out to Osage County on multiple occasions trying to get them to submit payment, however, they were having issues with a software system. He says since finding out about the issue, Osage County Commissioners and others have stepped up and, they are not current through the month of August, and the county is in the process of submitting payments for September, October and November as well.
KPERS did fine Osage County $10,000, but has waived part of it, but the county still owes $8,000 of that fine.
As for the employees retirement savings, Conroy says they would have never shorted the employee if the county was late in payments, as they would make sure members get what they are entitled to. Osage County has hired a Topeka-based accounting firm to address its financial issues. It has not given a timeline for that process.
