Assessor probe taken to closed meeting

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Could taxpayers be on the hook for some questionable actions by a high ranking county official? That's what Bernalillo County Commissioners are trying to figure out.

There have been accusations that County Assessor Karen Montoya has been misusing county employees and equipment.

County commissioners met behind closed doors Tuesday afternoon to discuss the issues and whether they've left the county open to a lawsuit.

"We do have fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of Bernalillo County, and if there are problems in the assessor's office I don't know what authority we have to impose," said Commissioner Wayne Johnson.

At the meeting county commissioners evaluated the assessor's actions, policies and employment practices.

In August some employees in the assessor's office claimed about how Montoya runs the assessor's office. Those allegations sparked an outside investigation.

Among the findings:  Montoya let unauthorized people log onto county computers, which contain classified information. It also shows one of her employees was being paid thousands of dollars he didn't earn.

Some of the six people who were off from the office last week believe they were let go because they didn't support Montoya when she campaigned for the position.

The report also states the majority of the 27 initially slated for layoffs campaigned against her.

Montoya claims she's done nothing wrong and says all of the proposed cuts and layoffs are part of her reorganization plan to save money.

"If there's nothing going on over there, hopefully these reports and anything that we ask for will show that and the public can have confidence that the assessors office is being run well," Johnson said.

Commissioners would not comment on the outcome of the closed-door meeting, except to say any further issues, if need be, will be handled by the state.

The commission does not have authority over the assessor because she is an elected official, but commissioners say the are responsible for the county employees under her.