Baltimore City Solicitor George Nilson is no longer drafting a policy under which taxpayers could end up paying
Mayor Sheila Dixon's legal bills.
The policy would have been similar to a state provision that allows officials to be reimbursed for legal fees if they are found
innocent of charges against them.
Dixon and Nilson were criticized this week after Nilson revealed he was drafting the policy. Dixon is under indictment on theft and perjury charges and has retained two prominent attorneys.
Dixon says in a statement that she doesn't believe a new policy is necessary.
Nilson says a city official who is acquitted or investigated but not charged could still have his or her legal fees paid back without a formal policy in place.
An official would have to request reimbursement from the Board of Estimates, a city spending panel that's controlled by the mayor.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
