And she wants it paid by tax day - April 15.

"The lawsuit should have never happened," said the former Salt Lake County mayor, who told her attorneys she could never afford such legal fees when the case began.

"They said, 'Don't worry, the county will have to pay for this.' "

Not necessarily, says John Soltis, civil-litigation director for the district attorney's office, who received the demand last week.

Soltis says the DA and Mayor Peter Corroon must determine whether the fees are reasonable and whether Workman is entitled to reimbursement.

No one is sure whether to apply the Government Immunity Act, which states a government is not automatically liable if an employee commits fraud or willful misconduct.

"It's an untested question," said Soltis, explaining the Utah Supreme Court has never ruled on such a case.

But Workman's attorney, Greg Skordas, who has represented multiple clients in similar cases, insists there is precedent in Salt Lake County to honor such payments.

"If they deny this thing it would be a significant departure from county procedure," Skordas said. "We expect it will be paid in a fair manner."

Skordas' letter, dated March 25, goes on to say just under $5,000 would be waived if the county pays the $196,000 by April 15. The smaller amount was charged by Ron Yengich, Workman's initial defense attorney.

To pay her lawyers, Workman says, she borrowed $65,000 against her mortgage, which she now expects to recoup.

In February, a jury cleared Workman of two felony charges of misusing public funds in the hiring of two bookkeepers to help her daughter at the South Valley Boys and Girls Clubs.

The case was heavily politicized - Democratic District Attorney David Yocom drew GOP fire when he leveled the charges against the Republican mayor - and probably affected November's election. Workman held a substantial fund-raising edge against eventual winner Corroon when she withdrew from the race.

"My biggest closure was the verdict," she said Monday. "I just wanted my name and reputation back."

She also wants official word on how she can spend the $174,873 - sitting "untouched" in a private account - that was left over from campaign contributions.

During the trial, questions surfaced about whether Workman could use the cash for legal fees.

Though the latest request makes that moot, Workman is still awaiting clarification from the DA about language stating the cash must be used for "political purposes."

"It's an issue that hasn't been resolved," Skordas said. "But, she has not touched that [money]."

As for the reimbursement, Soltis says the county will have its answer by tax day.

djensen@sltrib.com