ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A new Office of the Inspector General report accuses Mayor Tim Keller’s Administration of misusing COVID-19 federal grant money. A city councilor is now calling for a federal investigation.
The report released on Thursday points out that federal money meant to help childcare providers also went to more than 27 city worker’s bonuses, which ranged from almost $4,000 to $22,000 bonuses.
In 2021, the city applied for 21 federal grants to help facilities that offered early childhood education. City council approved.
However, the report states that out of almost $9 million, $288,000 went to big bonuses to city workers who were not qualified providers or worked at a childcare center. This included two bonuses totaling almost $20,000 to a fiscal manager who makes $97,000 a year. A deputy director whose annual salary is $123,000 received a $10,000 bonus.
The report also points five of the city salaries were double what preschool staff make, who the funding was meant for.