QUESTIONS ARE BEING RAISED ABOUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PAYMENTS MADE TO 13 EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF TIJERAS. STATE AUDITOR WAYNE JOHNSON HAS STARTED AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF THE PAYMENTS WERE LEGAL. HE SAYS THE MAYOR AND VILLAGE INTERIM DEPUTY CLERK WERE AMONG THOSE WHO GOT CHECKS…AND THEY APPARENTLY WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO KNEW ABOUT THE PAYMENTS.
THE VILLAGE COUNCIL DIDN’T FIND OUT UNTIL LATER. JOHNSON SAYS IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY A REIMBURSEMENT FOR OVERPAYMENTS FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
