South Kent News

State Representative Angela Rigas has formally requested an investigation into State Representative Kristian Grant's tax filings related to COVID-19 small business recovery funds. In a letter addressed to Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom, Rigas expressed concerns over potential misrepresentation by Grant regarding her status as a small business owner.

Rigas stated, "It’s disgusting that a colleague in our own chamber may have misrepresented her status as a small business owner and abused positions of power to steal taxpayer dollars from other small businesses." She emphasized the challenges faced by many during the pandemic, adding, "Claiming relief dollars when you know you don’t qualify is nothing short of criminal."

The issue arose after Kent County officials identified discrepancies involving $15,000 in COVID-19 relief grants awarded to Grant in 2020. Initially, Grant informed county officials that she had amended her 2019 tax return to show increased sales figures for her day-planner business to meet grant criteria. However, she later admitted that no amendment was made and returned $5,000 to the county recently.

In her communication with GRPD, Rigas asserted, “Public officials, especially those serving on a tax policy committee, should be held to a higher standard of accountability than the general public.” She urged for accountability concerning Grant's actions and suggested that the police department is best positioned to address these concerns.