Meurer vows to return money, distances from Parrish in Lubbock County pay dispute - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Meurer put out a statement Wednesday addressing questions about why he kept getting a commissioner's paycheck even after Corley was reinstated to the Precinct 2 seat. He also worked to put distance between himself and Parrish as the pay dispute draws more attention around the county.

The situation raises real questions about how temporary appointments get handled in Lubbock County government, and who is supposed to catch a payroll issue like this before it runs past the point it should have stopped. The overlap in pay between Corley and his temporary replacement is what set off the concern in the first place.

For people in Lubbock County, this is about basic accountability with public money. Precinct 2 taxpayers fund that commissioner's salary. A stretch of double payment means dollars went out that should not have, and the episode puts a spotlight on how the county tracks who gets paid once the original officeholder returns.

Nobody has said yet how long the overlap actually lasted.