The city’s short-lived chief technology officer tried to squeeze every penny from the city for his 2016 move from San Francisco to the Big Apple — seeking $27,315 in reimbursements that included a $1.99 hand towel from IKEA.
Mayor de Blasio’s administration rubber-stamped most of the moving expenses for former tech chief Miguel Gamiño, shelling out $23,534 to a commissioner who lasted just 18 months.
Gamiño, who was hired at a salary of $225,000, submitted moving expenses that ran the gamut — from a $6,855 relocation fee for a Realtor at The Corcoran Group to a $249 Alvine Ruta rug from IKEA.
He even included his first month’s rent in Downtown Brooklyn of $3,860 because he said he had been “required” to commit to the lease a month sooner than necessary, according to a letter obtained by The Post via public-disclosure law.
His and his wife’s hotel expenses — while apartment hunting in New York but also on trips back to the Bay Area after his start date — came to $3,434.
Gamiño also tried to bill the city for household items he said were needed because the movers were 10 days late delivering furniture — including $352.72 for two air mattresses at Target and $726.94 in household “essentials” from IKEA.
Those included the $1.99 hand towel, the $249 rug, a $49.99 “Randerup” rug, and a $29.99 utility cart.
The IKEA and Target purchases were among the disallowed fees.
In his letter justifying the added expenses, Gamiño wrote that living at the Holiday Inn Downtown Brooklyn with his wife and two infants for five days had become “unlivable and expensive,” so he sprung for the home supplies and moved into an empty apartment.
His official start date was Sept. 30, 2016. The following month, Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office proposed revising expense rules to limit moving-fee reimbursements to $15,000, changes that were adopted in December 2016.
The revised regulations also require new hires to commit to four years on the job and to reimburse the city on a prorated basis for covered expenses if they leave earlier.
City officials say they made no attempt to claw back the funds because Gamiño was hired before the revised rules were adopted.
“We provide moving expenses rarely, in exceptional situations for important senior positions that can be difficult to recruit,” said City Hall spokeswoman Jane Meyer. “Mr. Gamiño did good work for the public during the short time he was here. Ultimately, he decided to pursue opportunities in the private sector.”
Gamiño through his wife declined to comment Monday.
Additional reporting by Sarah Trefethen