A tenant is moving out of a house owned by taxpayers and we are going to pay for some of the items left behind. Is it a good deal?

As the former president moves out, Metro Community College moves on by paying Jo Ann McDowell for fixtures she added to the campus home she rented from the college.

“It's unusual that the president has a home and is living on campus, it's also unusual that the building is a combined private residence/public use building,” says interim president Randy Schmailzl.

As part of a consulting agreement with Metro, McDowell will be reimbursed $4,200 by taxpayers. That's fair market value for items she paid for and left behind, like stairway brass rods, a dining room rug, curtains and rods and a kitchen fan, among others.

“The taxpayer comes out in good shape because we would have to go back in and replace this," says Schmailzl. The interim president reduced that reimbursement by $3,700, cutting out such items as a washer/dryer, table and chairs and art work.

"We did not buy a lot of stuff that frankly didn't improve our property.” Metro board president Dave Newell is a landlord himself so he has a unique perspective on whether it's a fair deal.

“I believe that we purchased only those things that we can legitimately say we needed that can improve our property, not extras."

McDowell paid Metro $688 a month rent living upstairs, but using the main floor to host receptions for the college. Conflicts with the board and staff forced this move that will cost taxpayers for some of the things she leaves behind.

Channel 6 News left several messages on McDowell’s cell phone, but did not receive a response.

Tax money will continue to pay her annual salary of $85,000 as a consultant for a few more years. One of her duties will be to build an alumni organization for Metro Community College.