- State Treasurer and Auditor warn local governments and banks against risky practice (KUNM, 5/15/2023)
- The state treasurer and auditor of New Mexico have warned that some local governments in the state are involved in a banking practice that violates state and federal laws, posing a risk to taxpayer money. The practice involves bypassing the requirement for collateral insurance on bank accounts with balances above $250,000 by having unauthorized individuals sign for the accounts. They have issued an alert to ensure that banks cease this practice, as it jeopardizes public funds and may involve conflicts of interest.
- Man sentenced to 3 years for unfair bidding practices with Dora Consolidated School District (KFDA, 7/3/2024)
- Steven Butler, a Dora man, was sentenced to three years in prison and five years of supervised probation for engaging in unfair bidding practices with the Dora Consolidated School District, where he worked as the head of maintenance and used his position to secure contracts for his own company, costing taxpayers. An audit by the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor, followed by an investigation by the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the New Mexico Justice Department, led to the discovery of his illegal activities.
- Lawmakers express frustration over unspent public safety funding (Albuquerque Journal, 8/12/2024)
- Lawmakers in New Mexico expressed frustration over the state government’s failure to spend millions of dollars allocated for public safety initiatives. Despite significant funds being available, bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies have prevented these resources from being used to address pressing issues like crime and law enforcement shortages. The situation has sparked concerns about the state’s ability to effectively manage and deploy crucial public safety funding.
