Muncie city employee on administrative leave after state audit reveals ‘possible irregularities’

After nearly a week of community rumors on social media, the Muncie mayor’s office is confirming a city employee is on administrative leave as the state begins an investigation.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, a state audit found an employee being paid for both full-time work and consulting.

In a statement, Mayor Dan Ridenour’s office does not name the Muncie city employee.

But the latest State Board of Accounts audit of the city of Muncie listed in state records from September 2023 found issues with an employee the report describes as providing “management of Prairie Creek Reservoir.”

The mayor’s office says it does not confirm or deny the identity of employees under investigation in any SBOA audit.

According to the mayor’s office, the employee has been on leave since April 19.  The statement mentions a city council executive session to inform the council on May 3.

The state audit from September found an employee’s time card showed eight hours worked each day for the city, but “not the actual time hours and no record of hours worked was provided for the consulting work.”  The audit called this “insufficient documentation.”

In 2021, that employee was paid $49,355 as a full-time city employee, plus $24,000 as a consultant.  City records show those pay amounts increased in 2022 and 2023.

The mayor’s statement says the employee put on leave on April 19 is still being paid while on leave for what it describes as “possible irregularities.”  The Indiana State Police is joining the State Board of Accounts in investigating.

Here is the city statement in full:

“On April 18, the City received a report indicating possible irregularities in the application of the City’s standard operating procedures and ethics guidelines. As a result, on April 19, the Mayor authorized an independent investigation by the State Board of Accounts and the State Police and placed one employee on Administrative Leave with pay.

The City is cooperating fully with the SBOA. The Muncie City Council was updated in an executive session on May 3 at City Hall. The City is unable to make any further comment pending the City’s receipt of the investigation report.”

Clarification:  This story includes clarification language requested by the city of Muncie, as the mayor’s office does not identify employees under investigation by the SBOA.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.