An attorney representing the Saline County Commission and the County Collector released a statement on the lawsuit recently filed by Saline County Assessor Jessica Goodman.

Peter Rottgers, of Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, released the following statement:

“Our office has had the opportunity to perform a preliminary review of the Assessor’s Petition and the underlying facts of the case. In short, we are particularly disheartened that Assessor Goodman sees it fit to spend the Saline County taxpayers’ money on this frivolous lawsuit, wherein she complains of the County Commissioners using federally allocated money for its authorized purpose, a temporary raise for her government employees, while simultaneously complaining that she should be allowed to pay her government employees not to come to work. It is almost as disheartening as Assessor Goodman’s total disregard of the Commission’s efforts to resolve these matters without a lawsuit, or the fact that we cannot see how, in any way, shape, or form, this lawsuit benefits the people of Saline County. Not only is it tone deaf in light of the very real issues people are facing these days, but it is also a complete waste of time and money. It is almost like the Assessor does not appreciate that she is asking the Court to increase her budget by taking money from the school district and other local services.”

KMMO previously reported on Goodman’s complaints with the Commission for the lawsuit. Goodman filed the lawsuit against the Commission and the Collector in regards to the assessors fund.