FY2020 Audit and Accountability Awards to Counties

SANTA FE, NM – New Mexico Counties and State Auditor Brian Colón selected San Juan, Sandoval, Chaves, Los Alamos, McKinley, De Baca, and Guadalupe Counties as recipients for the annual Audit and Accountability Awards presented at the NMC Legislative Conference Thursday, January 20, 2022. The awards are given in recognition to large, mid-size, and small counties for outstanding work on their audits, submitting timely audits, and sustaining 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 by following generally accepted accounting principles. Lea and Roosevelt Counties received continued audit excellence county certificates. 

A good audit reflects a county’s strong finance department, elected officials, and management.

The following counties received the FY2020 Audit & Accountability Awards:

Large County Award

San Juan County – Continues their streak of overall audit achievement and financial management excellence; received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for an incredible 15 consecutive years for excellence in financial programming.

Sandoval County – This is the first audit and accountability award for Sandoval County! The county had zero findings with an unmodified opinion.

Mid-Size County Award

Chaves County – Fifth time recipient with zero findings and a consistent unmodified opinion; won the certificate of excellence award for FY 2018; previously received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for 6 consecutive years for excellence in financial programming.

Los Alamos County – Continues to excel in excellent financial management with zero findings and an unmodified opinion; the county also received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for 29 consecutive years for excellence in financial programming.

McKinley County – Third time recipient with continuous clean audits with an unmodified opinion and zero findings.

Small County Award

De Baca County – This is the first audit and accountability award for De Baca County! The county received an unmodified opinion and resolved all past findings in FY2020.

Guadalupe County – Fifth time recipient of the audit and accountability award with an unmodified opinion and zero repeat findings.

The following counties received the FY2019 Continued Excellence County Certificates in recognition of continued audit achievement and financial management excellence:

Continued Excellence Certificate

Lea County – Fourth time recipient continuing to excel in the audits and has received a consistent unmodified opinion with one finding.

Roosevelt County – Continues their financial management excellence with one finding and a consistent unmodified opinion.