SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) State Auditor Hector Balderas says his office has identified inconsistencies in per diem forms submitted by New Mexico Department of Health employees. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Balderas said Thursday that if auditors find department employees were improperly reimbursed, those employees could be required to pay back the money.
The audit comes after the Santa Fe Reporter reported that Department of Health Deputy Secretary Brad McGrath had racked up about $33,000 in mileage, per diem and hotel charges since October 2011 for travel between Santa Fe and his home in Roswell.
Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward said Thursday that McGrath hasn't done anything wrong but has agreed to voluntarily give up claiming the per diem effective this week because “he doesn't want any controversy.''
