ATLANTA -- A spokesman for former mayor Kasim Reed said Wednesday more than $500,000 of bonuses awarded to Reed's cabinet and senior team at the end of his administration "were appropriate."
"At the end of Mayor Reed’s term, the city of Atlanta was on its best financial footing in 40 years," said Reed spokesman Jeff Dickerson. "Atlantans benefited from eight consecutive balanced budgets, zero property tax increases, zero water rate increases, nine consecutive credit-rating increases, more than $200 million in cash reserves and a 37 percent reduction in crime.
"As a result, Mayor Reed awarded performance bonuses to members of his cabinet and senior team, who all played a significant role in contributing to this record of achievement."
More than $500,000 were awarded in bonuses and holiday party gifts in December 2017.
A spokesperson for current Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the bonuses were made without input from the her administration.
"However, Mayor Bottoms will continue to carefully evaluate best practices, prioritizing ways in which city business can be conducted in a transparent and responsible manner," Bottoms' office said.
During Wednesday's Atlanta City Council meeting, council members raised concerns about how the bonuses were handled. They said they want to find out if the bonuses and awards were legal, and how they were made without council approval.
Howard Shook, the head of the council's finance committee, said he had some questions about the process.
"One of the questions I have is: Were there informal guidelines the administration had in place that said 'you're eligible for a bonus if...', 'You can get above and beyond if...'," Shook said. "I wouldn't be for prohibiting bonuses, but the whole process needs to be a whole lot more transparent."
Dickerson said the practice of rewarding employees for service and performance isn't new and has been common practice in the City of Atlanta.
"From 2008-2012, the city employed a gift card program used to reward employees in various departments," he said. "Also, in 2013, the city of Atlanta Innovation Delivery Team launched a citywide employee ideas competition which rewarded employees for their ideas on how the city could reduce waste, cut red tape and save money on operations.
"These bonuses were appropriate and Mayor Reed believes the individuals who received the bonuses were worthy of them."
Members of the city's law office informed the council on Wednesday that, prior to the bonuses being awarded, legal staff drafted a memo and sent it to their human resources department. They are currently trying to track down that memo, but complications from the city's recent cyberattack is preventing them from accessing it.
