FY2017 Audit and Accountability Awards to Counties
SANTA FE, NM – New Mexico Counties and State Auditor Brian Colón selected Doña Ana, San Juan, Chaves, Curry, Lincoln, McKinley, Roosevelt, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, and Harding Counties for the annual Audit and Accountability Awards that were presented at the NMC Legislative Conference Thursday, January 17, 2019. In addition, a new award was given to the county that performs with continued audit excellence. The awards are given in recognition to large, mid-size, and small counties along with the most improved county, that have done outstanding work on their audits, submitted their audits in a timely manner, and have sustained excellence with the highest audit opinions. An unmodified opinion is the best opinion that can be given, and means that the financial statements are presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The following counties received the FY2017 Audit & Accountability Awards:
Large County Audit Achievement
Doña Ana County – Third time recipient, seven years without an audit finding
San Juan County – Fourth time recipient, no findings
Mid-Size County Audit Achievement
Chaves County – Third time recipient, one finding and an unmodified opinion
Curry County – Second time recipient, one finding and an unmodified opinion
Lincoln County – First time recipient, one finding and an unmodified opinion
McKinley County – First time recipient, one finding
Roosevelt County – Second time recipient, won most improved last year, one finding
Small County Audit Achievement
Guadalupe County – Second time recipient, no findings
Continued Audit Excellence (New Award)
Los Alamos County – Fourth time recipient, first recipient of this new award
Most Improved County Audit
Harding County – First time recipient, improved from a disclaimer of opinion and 14 findings to a clean opinion with four findings.
“As state auditor, it is my honor to celebrate excellence as we express gratitude for our county elected officials and civil servants for their leadership in serving New Mexico’s families by way of fiscal accountability,” said Brian Colón. Steve Kopelman, NMC Executive Director stated, “Congratulations go out to the Audit Accountability Award winners for their excellent work. We also want to thank our State Auditor, Brian Colón, for his informative and entertaining presentation to our county members.”
This year the “Friend to the Counties Award” was given to Rick Lopez, former Director of Local Government Division, in recognition of his excellent service to counties and his willingness to reach out to local governments.
The New Mexico Counties is a non-profit, nonpartisan association representing New Mexico’s 33 counties since 1936. Its mission is to strengthen New Mexico counties’ ability to govern their own affairs and to improve the well-being and quality of life of their constituents. NM Counties provides numerous services to counties including legislative advocacy, self-insurance administration, legal assistance, and professional development. For more information, please visit here.