By Cindi Andrews
Enquirer staff writer

The Hamilton County auditor is accusing the county agency that cares for the mentally retarded of frittering away taxpayers' dollars on such extras as painting classes and a Hyde Park apartment.

The Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board, which is requesting a November tax levy, is required by state law to provide activities and housing to its clients, but some of the costs seem out of line, Auditor Dusty Rhodes said.

"Just because you need to provide transportation doesn't mean you buy them a Lexus," said Rhodes, whose office pays the bills for all county offices.

Painting classes for one woman run $100 a week. The agency is contributing $485 a month toward another woman's Hyde Park apartment. A year of laundry service for one man could cost up to $2,500.

But agency spokeswoman Jenny Dexter said such spending helps those clients live more independently and productively, ultimately costing society less:

• The painting student has sold some paintings, so her one-on-one classes twice weekly are reducing her reliance on the agency.

• The family of the woman who lives in Hyde Park's Grandin House wanted her there because she's close to them and she feels safe in the building. The family is paying her housing expenses not covered by the agency's monthly contribution.

• The man who has his laundry sent out is living on his own after the death of his elderly mother. He has use of only one arm and would need more in-home help - and a washer and dryer - if his laundry service was discontinued.

Dexter said the agency doesn't mind Rhodes questioning their spending.

"We appreciate the auditor's job," she said. "He needs to make sure we're accounting for how we spend the taxpayers' money. We want people to look at our books."

Superintendent Cheryl Phipps recently sent county commissioners and Rhodes information about the expenses. She noted that auditors from the accounting firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers found no problems in a recent review. In a letter Friday, Rhodes said Phipps overstated the extent of the audit and falsely took credit for initiating it.

"It is very disturbing that they would misrepresent that," he said.

Phipps was out of town on Friday, but Dexter said the agency and the auditor's office mutually agreed to the outside audit at a meeting several months ago.

The agency, which serves about 5,000 clients, is seeking voter approval of a 35 percent tax levy increase in November. The higher levy would raise $73 million a year.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com