Amy Trapp said the spending was justified at a City Council meeting earlier this month after coming under fire by the county controller, Stephen Barron. Barron criticized Trapp for spending ten times more than what was spent for training in 2015.
With 2,200 county employees, the increased cost for management and employee training resulted in a big return on investment, Trapp said. She added that the county paid $1.4 million in workers’ compensation claims in 2015 versus $595,000 last year.
"The focus on training, the focus on support really makes a difference in the area on whether or not an employee feels they are treated equitably," Trapp said.
County Councilman Matthew Benol said Barron should have talked with Trapp before sending out a memo accusing her of abuse and overspending. "This is nothing more than a political hit piece," Benol said.