When it comes to reimbursing state employees for education costs, the Texas Department of Transportation is far more generous than other state agencies.
After reporting this month that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission paid a top aide’s $97,020 MBA tuition, The Texas Tribune took a closer look at how much state agencies reimburse employees for education costs. Of the $23.8 million state agencies spent from 2002 to part of January 2015 on tuition, conferences and other educational programs for employees, close to half went to TxDOT staffers, according to data from the Texas comptroller’s office.
TxDOT spokeswoman Veronica Beyer could not explain why the agency spends much more on staffer education than other agencies. She said doing so helps the agency attract and retain the most talented staff.
“Investing in this professional and educational development of our best and brightest employees is valuable to the state as it assists our agency in meeting our goals and the transportation needs of Texas,” she said.
The agency did not provide the Tribune with details on the types of education its employees were receiving at taxpayer expense.
via TxDOT Spends Millions in Tuition Reimbursements | The Texas Tribune.