The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., got a surprise recently: Its taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the Kansas Attorney General’s costs on the Schlitterbahn investigation.
So far, the UG is budgeting $1 million to pay the Kansas Attorney General for costs associated with the criminal case against Schlitterbahn and key employees accused of recklessness in the 2016 death of a young boy at the KCK water park.
“We’re hoping it doesn’t cost that much,” said UG spokesman Mike Taylor. “It’s basically $1 million in a surprise expense.” The UG is responsible for the bill because former Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerry Gorman asked the Kansas Attorney General to handle the Schlitterbahn matter after the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department investigated the death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab. Those requests come with a stipulation that the county requesting the attorney general’s involvement agrees to pay the costs.
(Read more: KC Star Local News)