The editorial of Aug. 17 spoke volumes on the current management in the Butler County Government Center’s personnel department.

The Affordable Care Act requires literally millions of nationwide employers to file a simple reporting form each year. The forms, free instructions, free webinars, free software, etc. are all available online for any employer feeling they need a quick briefing on the new requirement.

But Butler County just didn’t feel it could submit the simple forms in their personnel department. One must definitely ask “Why Not?”

Before Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was sold, that department also complained that about one third of its work was dedicated to personnel issues at that facility. The personnel director was then given a 28 percent pay raise because of extra duties caused by Sunnyview. Then they sold the facility.

Sunnyview has been gone for more than a year ... what has changed?

The personnel director and staff were given more raises. After a huge drop in responsibilities.

The personnel director asked for entire staff to be reclassified this year as personnel specialists at a new rate of $25 per hour. 40 hours a week, including five hours of paid lunches each week. Fortunately that was denied by the salary board.

And now they are not competent to fill out a simple form for the Treasury Department? So, they hire someone and authorize a payment of $5,000 for the simple procedure. Also, the information needed for that person filling out the form will be provided by that personnel department.

A review was conducted recently to see if everyone having health insurance provided by the county was employed and eligible for the coverages they were receiving. Again, an outside firm was hired to do it for the personnel department. Problems were discovered. Why?

How many county departments are also spending hard earned tax money on outside firms to do what they are already paid and trained to do? That is a valid question.

Unfortunately, only Commissioner Jim Eckstein voiced opposition to this waste of tax money and wanted it done internally with the help of the controller’s office if even needed.