Baltimore taxpayers could foot the bill for Mayor Sheila Dixon's legal fees under a new policy being drafted by the city law department.
The city's top attorney, Solicitor George A. Nilson, said he offered to research whether city officials could be repaid for costs associated with a lengthy investigation into City Hall corruption after a conversation with Dixon and others last summer.
"I looked at the prior record and realized that there wasn't any clear policy," Nilson said. "I just thought it made a whole lot of sense to spell it out."
The draft policy - which could take effect in about a month if approved by the city Board of Estimates - is modeled in part on a provision in the state code that allows reimbursement only for state officials who are cleared of charges, Nilson said. The state prohibits payment to those found guilty of offenses.
Dixon, he said, did "not disagree" with the plan to develop a reimbursement policy, though he said he has not spoken with her about it since his research began. Ian Brennan, a spokesman for Dixon, declined to comment.
The Democratic mayor was indicted this month on 12 counts, including taking gift cards meant for the needy, lying on her ethics disclosure forms and misuse of office after a nearly three-year investigation by the Office of the State Prosecutor. She says that she is innocent of all the charges.
Defense attorneys said it is difficult to estimate Dixon's defense costs, noting that attorneys vary their rates, but several guessed the total would reach six figures.
Del. Jill P. Carter, a Baltimore Democrat and defense attorney, said she opposed the idea of tax dollars going toward legal fees because "there is no limit to what the lawyers can charge." Reimbursement might be appropriate, she said, if an official can show a prosecution was motivated by ill will.
Dee Hodges, head of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, said officials charged with crimes should rely on public defenders.
Dixon's mayoral salary is $151,700 a year, and she has retained two of the city's most prominent defense attorneys, Arnold M. Weiner, who has his own firm; and Dale P. Kelberman, a partner at Miles and Stockbridge.
Neither would comment on how much they are charging or whether they plan to seek city funds for payment.
The city could be asked to pay legal fees for other employees who retained private lawyers but were never charged. That could include as many as half a dozen private lawyers hired to represent various city employees during the investigation.
