Cobb puts limits on employee tuition assistance program

The county originally adopted the tuition policy in 1990 to provide financial aid to full-time county employees to further their education. The policy has since undergone a number of revisions, but until the latest updates, the county was left on the hook for all reimbursements as long as employees earned satisfactory grades in their classes (a C for undergraduate classes and B for graduate level classes).

“With the policy as it stood, we had no control over how much we’d spend because the participation and reimbursement was based on [participants’] grades,” said Paul Ruth, the county’s director of information services and chairman of the tuition reimbursement committee. “The changes allow us to stay within budget and gives us more control.”

In fiscal 2009 and 2010, the overall budget for the tuition program was $167,500 for each year, with each division of government dedicating a portion of its budget for reimbursements. The overall budget is the same for fiscal 2011, which began Oct. 1.

Reimbursements exceeded the budget by $11,814 in 2009. The 2010 expenses were $163,570 for the 90 employees who participated in the program, but receipts from summer term classes may still be coming in and push the program over budget, Ruth said. In fiscal 2008, the program came in $58 below the $165,818 budget.

Under the new rules, an employee/student’s reimbursement would be capped at $1,250, or $500 per term. Also, employees would have to earn a B or better to be reimbursed by the county.

Additionally, once the money budgeted for the program each year is exhausted, no additional funds will be paid out to any participant, according to the revised policy.

Tuition reimbursement policies vary in other metro counties.

Gwinnett County’s program covers tuition and books up to $100 per class and mandatory fees. Employees have to have worked for the county a minimum of two years as a full-time employee and received a satisfactory rating on their most recent performance evaluation to participate, according to policy information on the county’s website.

Fulton County does not offer a tuition reimbursement program. The county has a policy that could allow for it, but it is not funded, said a county spokeswoman.

Cobb’s policy changes come as no surprise, said Beth Brown, spokeswoman for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.

“Counties are all dealing with having to look at budget cuts,” Brown said. “Other counties are looking at cuts to programs and services both internally for employees as well as the public.”