Kentucky Association of Counties
Following a threat of fines from the state Department of Insurance, officials of the Kentucky Association of Counties insurance group have agreed to stop paying for most meals, trips or gifts for county officials.
Two former Kentucky Association of Counties officials probably arranged for a Lexington escort service to send women to their hotel rooms on KACo's dime, state Auditor Crit Luallen said Thursday.
The story that sparked the investigation
When the Kentucky Association of Counties sent six people to Washington, D.C., in March 2008 to attend a conference and lobby officials, the $31,700 trip included two dinners totaling $4,277 and a $10,000 cancellation fee for hotel rooms that weren't used. That trip was one of the most expensive among dozens of jaunts taken by leaders of KACo, a non-profit group that lobbies for counties and provides them with insurance and financing services.
Search the KACO and KLC expenses databaseSince 2001, the Kentucky Association of Counties' liability insurance plan has paid for more than $300,000 worth of criminal defense bills for five elected county officials accused of crimes related to their job.
