We need a more comprehensive, centralized, and phased approach with the express goal of assisting all local public bodies to get into financial compliance.
When newly-elected State Auditor Joseph Maestas took office, he found himself in charge of a budget he had no say in developing. This led to one bill proposal for appropriations that otherwise would have been included in the State Auditor’s Office budget. SB 323 seeks to replace the SAO’s current fraud complaint management system. “We […]
New Mexico State Auditor Joseph Maestas has ordered a special audit examining metered utilities in the city of Deming. The city declared its own interest in an audit in November after a former city department head took to social media with claims that the city was engaged in widespread overbilling for municipal water service. While denying the claim, the city said it would contract with accounting firm Carr, Riggs and …
Members of the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission say a joint public relations campaign by the Public Service Company of New Mexico and energy giant Avangrid created confusion, but the state regulatory body does not have jurisdiction to stop them. Last year, the PRC blocked a merger between PNM and Avangrid, though that decision has […]