When Wayne Hammon, acting head of the Division of Human Resources as well as the governor's budget chief, concluded his presentation of the DHR budget to JFAC, a couple of committee members had questions about the division's decision to deposit $75,000 into the retirement account of former Director Judie Wright this past year in exchange for her retiring eight months earlier than planned, boosting her retirement benefits.

Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, asked about severance payments. "DHR has not paid any severance," Hammon responded, noting that severance payments from the state are illegal. "The employee who left did not receive any money from DHR," he said. When Jaquet asked where the money came from, Hammon said, "The employee received no money." Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, asked if some arrangement was made through PERSI. "DHR did purchase time at PERSI for the employee ... as authorized by statute," Hammon responded. "The money was given from the DHR budget to PERSI - no money was given to the employee."

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