Some departments in previous Gov. Bill Owens' administration used vacancy savings as a "slush fund" that helped cover the cost of huge payouts to Owens' appointees, a Democratic lawmaker charged Thursday.

Rep. Bernie Buescher, of Grand Junction, said he and other members of the Joint Budget Committee are concerned about recent revelations that Owens' staffers received bonuses, were allowed to accrue unlimited sick and vacation leave, and might have been overpaid thousands of dollars when they exited state government in January.

Buescher said he doesn't believe anything illegal occurred, but lawmakers might ask the state auditor to investigate.

"What we are trying to do is get a handle," he said. "We're the legislative branch, and we're seeing something the executive branch has done wrong."

Buescher and others have said it was wrong for Owens' top staffers to collect benefits other state employees don't receive. Owens, a Republican, left office Jan. 9, when Democrat Bill Ritter was sworn in.

Dan Hopkins, Owens' spokesman, noted that Owens' former chief of staff already has written a letter saying the leave policy was confusing, and that it would be appropriate for the Ritter administration to review all payouts.

Ritter is still working on a policy for his appointees, spokesman Evan Dreyer said. It is expected to be made public soon. "It will have some caps and consistency with what is already in place for state employees," Dreyer said.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, was asked about Owens' payroll revelations Thursday at a meeting with reporters.

He brought in Buescher because the JBC has been addressing the issue for several weeks.

Buescher said departments are no longer allowed to accrue so much vacancy savings, "which appears to have been used to some extent as a slush fund" by some agencies in the Owens administration. He did not say which ones.

Former Sen. Dave Owen, R- Greeley, sat on the JBC for 14 years. He said vacancy savings have been an issue as far back as Owens' predecessor, Democratic Gov. Roy Romer.

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