On Tuesday, the County Council agreed with plans to reimburse the Salt Lake Valley Health Department for the $17,000 that Mayor Nancy Workman allegedly diverted to the South Valley Boys and Girls Clubs - an agency that employs her daughter.

The money helped pay the salaries of two successive accountants. The move led to two felony charges and a prolonged court battle amid accusations of partisan gamesmanship. Workman, who is on paid leave, has since withdrawn from the mayor's race, citing health reasons.

David Marshall, the county's chief administrative officer, says the funds will be pulled from the mayor's personnel budget. The payment will be made this year.

"Whether it was a criminal act or the wrong thing to do is still up to the courts to decide," Marshall said. "But the fact it wasn't a health-fund expenditure is pretty obvious."

Suzanne Kirkham, deputy director for the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, acknowledged the accounting adjustment is unusual because it involves the mayor's office, but said she expected the reimbursement to be approved.

"It isn't that the money is so significant," she said. "It is: The board has a fiduciary responsibility. I don't think we ever felt there would be any balking."

Council Republicans said the move was "appropriate," but Councilman Joe Hatch, a Democrat, suggested it doesn't go far enough.

"We're robbing Peter to pay Paul on this," he said.

Because the payments came during separate budget years - a portion was disbursed in 2003 - Marshall says the County Auditor's Office is still working out the reimbursement details.

djensen@sltrib.com