Minneapolis officials are scrutinizing the compensation of Muhammad Abdul‑Ahad, chief executive officer of T.O.U.C.H. Outreach, after the nonprofit’s 2024 salary rose to $246,000—nearly three times the prior year’s pay. The increase coincided with a city‑approved boost in annual funding to about $1.5 million.

Audit highlights oversight gaps

A recent audit of the Neighborhood Safety Department, which oversees contracts for “violence‑interrupter” groups, found significant weaknesses in invoice reviews and verification of work performed. The auditor’s office warned that the city faces an increased risk of fraud, waste and abuse within these contracts.

City spokesperson Jess Olstad noted that contractors set their own employee wages, but the city does impose limits on reimbursement for contracted services. The audit’s findings have led to calls for tighter monitoring of how taxpayer dollars are spent.

Salary comparison and city leadership

Abdul‑Ahad’s $246,000 salary exceeds the compensation of several top city officials, including the mayor, city attorney and chief financial officer, who earned about $234,000 last year. He also argued that his pay should surpass that of interim Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette, who earned roughly $365,000.

When asked about the salary, Abdul‑Ahad declined to disclose his 2025 compensation, noting that funding for T.O.U.C.H. was cut by about half that year. The nonprofit’s 2025 tax filings have not yet been released.

Program impact and city’s future plans

T.O.U.C.H. Outreach deploys workers in bright yellow shirts to walk streets, alleys and parking lots south of downtown five days a week. Abdul‑Ahad says the presence of these “violence interrupters” has helped push drug activity away from targeted locations, though he admits the effect is often temporary as troublemakers relocate.

Police data show citywide gunshots have dropped more than 50 % since a 2021 peak, a trend Abdul‑Ahad attributes in part to the work of his organization and similar groups. However, Mayor Jacob Frey has proposed slashing funding for the street‑level violence‑interrupter program by over 70 % in the upcoming budget, favoring a new Community Safety Ambassador program staffed by city employees.

Abdul‑Ahad warned that cutting the program could cause crime to rise, emphasizing the importance of community‑based outreach alongside traditional policing.

Contract restrictions and workforce changes

Last year the city added restrictions that capped hourly pay for violence‑interrupter workers at about $20, down from the $30+ rates Abdul‑Ahad previously paid. He reported losing many staff members as a result, though those who remain are familiar with the neighborhoods they patrol.

The audit and the mayor’s budget proposal underscore a growing debate in Minneapolis about how best to allocate resources for public safety while ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Original reporting: News Talk 1340 KROC-AM – News and Talk – Rochester News Radio — read the source article.