ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new report from the City of Albuquerque’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) alleges that nearly $288,000 in federal child care grant money was improperly distributed to city employees — including upper management — in the form of bonuses that violated grant spending rules.
The investigation, completed in late October, found that 27 employees with the Department of Family and Community Services received “premium pay” disbursements from the Child Care Stabilization Grant, a federal program meant to support licensed child care centers during the pandemic.
According to the report, the bonuses were issued to staff who were not employed at child development centers or otherwise ineligible under federal guidelines…