HOUSTON -- An employee in the office of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado who was removed from her job in connection with improper bonuses wants the public to hear her side before accusing her of any wrongdoing, KPRC Local 2 reported in an exclusive story Thursday.

Florence Watkins told KPRC Local 2 that she has almost 12 years under her belt working for the city of Houston, and that she has been dedicated to doing the best job possible.

"I don't think it was wrong now because I feel I worked for it. I feel -- I work. I work," Watkins told KPRC Local 2 in an exclusive interview. "They just told us that there were some indiscretions, stating that we had received incentives and bonuses that were not authorized."

Watkins is one of four employees in the Mayor Pro Tem's Office who were removed from their jobs Wednesday afternoon in connection with collecting curiously large payroll bonuses.

Mayor Bill White said the four city workers apparently shared $130,000 in bonuses, which was far beyond any bonus allowed in city government. He said two workers each took $50,000 by circumventing the entire payroll approval process.

Watkins said she worked hard and thought she earned the money.

"I don't even know what it's like to take a vacation because I am so afraid to leave the office because the work can't be done," Watkins said.

As an administrative coordinator, Watkins' base salary in 2005 was $50,705. She received more than $46,500 in bonuses.

Some call the bonus Watkins received excessive, but she said her boss approved the bonuses.

"I know that we got incentives. I understand that. But also, the mayor pro tem gave our supervisor total authorization over us. She's the one who signed the document, giving her power to sign her name," Watkins said.

"I would never authorize anyone to do that," Alvarado told KPRC.

Watkins' supervisor Rosita Hernandez received a $47,500 bonus. Her base salary for 2005 was $72,741.

"I believe that if (Alvarado) told (Hernandez) to control that office and take care of the people in that office, that's what she did," Watkins said.

"That is absolutely not true. I would never give anyone a blank check, much less blank authorization or to sign my name, especially with an issue like payroll," Alvarado said.

Hernandez could not be reached for comment.

Office of Inspector General agents, who are responsible for investigating any allegations of wrongdoing for city employees, and Houston police raided the offices shortly after lunchtime Wednesday. Computers were confiscated from the office, and door locks and card keys were changed.

The four employees were immediately placed on paid administrative leave. Watkins said she is willing to cooperate with the investigation.

"By the time this bird has finished singing, there's going to be a lot of people (in trouble). They are going to look at a lot of people. We weren't the only ones that got incentives," Watkins said.

The mayor said that there was no sign that Alvarado had anything to do with the irregularities.