Baltimore's Inspector General Reports Over $300K Paid to Departing Employees

Baltimore has disbursed over $300,000 to more than a dozen city employees while they were on 'permission' leave or after they left their positions, according to a report from the city's Inspector General, Isabel Mercedes Cumming.

The investigation found that nearly half of the payments were made to employees within the mayor's office. Notably, five individuals from this office were identified as having received extensive permission leave, including one who had been with the city for less than six months at the time of their exit.

Permission leave, as defined by the Inspector General's office, is a form of administrative leave that is not accrued and is granted by the employer under specific conditions, such as during severe weather or the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Inspector General's inquiry was initiated in 2025 following a complaint alleging that the mayor's office was improperly utilizing permission leave for employees who were departing, a benefit not commonly extended to the majority of city workers.

In response, the mayor's office stated that the use of permission leave is a standard practice in many industries and committed to ensuring its equitable application.

Recent tensions have arisen between Mayor Brandon Scott and Inspector General Cumming, culminating in a legislative proposal from the mayor aimed at enhancing oversight of the Inspector General's office. This proposal seeks to redefine the investigative authority of the office and initiate an independent review of the city's now-defunct youth anti-violence program, SideStep.

Mayor Scott's measures are intended to address concerns regarding the effectiveness and credibility of the Inspector General's operations. However, Cumming criticized the proposal as an attempt to exert control rather than accountability, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding the use of taxpayer funds.

The mayor's office has countered that Cumming misrepresents the intent of the proposals and expressed a desire for constructive dialogue with the Inspector General and city lawmakers.

In a separate legal matter, the Inspector General's office has filed a lawsuit against Baltimore City, claiming that Cumming was denied access to crucial documents necessary for her investigations. This includes a subpoena for financial records related to the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement's SideStep program, which the city allegedly responded to with heavily redacted documents.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).