ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on the University of New Mexico’s spending of public money (all times local):
12:20 p.m.
University of New Mexico acting President Chaouki Abdallah says the school will cooperate with state auditors as they review the spending of public money on a 2015 golf trip to Scotland that included university athletics officials and private donors.
Abdallah said Wednesday that the university is looking forward to a timely process.
The state auditor’s office says the review has been ongoing for at least three weeks.
Abdallah confirmed to Albuquerque television station KRQE earlier this week that Krebs acknowledged that the university picked up the tab for at least three donors to go on the trip.
The spending by UNM has raised questions about possible violations of the state Constitution’s anti-donation clause, which prohibits state entities from making gifts to private citizens.
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11:10 a.m.
The New Mexico State Auditor’s Office has confirmed that it has opened a case into the spending of public money by the University of New Mexico’s athletics department on a golf trip to Scotland.
Agency spokeswoman Justine Freeman said Wednesday the findings will be made public when the review is complete. It’s not clear how long the investigation will take.
Athletic director Paul Krebs continues to draw criticism as more details about the 2015 junket emerge.
Krebs has said the $65,000 trip was meant to strengthen relationships with donors, but critics have said it should have been paid for by the university’s independent fundraising arm, not with athletic department money.
New Mexico and other state universities and colleges have been forced to consider tuition increases and other cuts as the state grapples with a budget crisis.
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9:42 a.m.
The head of the University of New Mexico’s athletics department is drawing criticism as more details emerge about the use of public money for a 2015 golf trip to Scotland.
Athletics director Paul Krebs has said the $65,000 trip was meant to strengthen relationships with donors, but critics have said it should have been paid for by the university’s independent fundraising arm, not with athletic department money.
UNM and other state universities and colleges have been forced to consider tuition increases and other cuts as the state grapples with a budget crisis.
Albuquerque television station KRQE reported this week (https://bit.ly/2qcaN03) that Krebs revealed public money was used to pay for the trips of at least three boosters.
University spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair tells the Albuquerque Journal (https://bit.ly/2rUmMM0 ) that possible discipline against Krebs is being considered.
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