Riverside County Pays $1.3M In Vacation Cash-Outs

RIVERSIDE (AP) — Rather than take time off, Riverside County prosecutors cashed out $1.3 million in vacation time in July.

The sudden spike in vacation pay-outs to deputy district attorneys has triggered an investigation, but Assistant District Attorney Kelly Keenan says cashing out up to 160 hours of vacation in a calendar year has been a long-standing practice and is justified.

No other county department has had such a surge.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise says there were 183 requests for money instead of vacation days, and 146 of those were for 160 hours.

Bewildered County Executive Officer Bill Luna says the cash-outs are stunning, noting the budget strapped county has been forced to impose layoffs, furloughs and service cut in recent years.

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