22-05-2025
State auditor and Attorney General investigate missing money in Mora County
MORA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Nearly three million dollars in public funds have gone missing, and now two of the state's top investigators are bearing down on Mora County, which was charged with overseeing that cash. 'We've been receiving complaints from a county official about potential financial malfeasance, conflicts of interest, potential procurement violations,' said Joseph Maestas, New Mexico State Auditor.
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Those whistleblower complaints led the auditor to declare a 'special audit' against Mora County. An accounting firm looking into that county's finances found the red flag.'This forensic accountant disclosed the fact that there was 2.7 million dollars in unaccounted for funds,' said Maestas.
It comes as Mora County is simultaneously managing $40 million in state wildfire relief funding after the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire. Countywide, dozens of roads and culverts need repair following flooding on burn scars. 'Regarding the 40 million dollars in disaster relief funds for infrastructure repair and replacement, we're concerned in terms of whether or not the county can adequately manage that amount of funds,' said Maestas.
While investigators still need to get to the bottom of exactly where the county's missing $2.7 million and what those dollars are supposed to be for, the auditor said the financial mess signals major concerns for Mora County. 'I have an obligation to the Mora county residents to ensure them that we're going to get to the bottom of any financial mismanagement and ensure that the 40 million dollars that's been set aside for disaster relief and mitigation is spent appropriately,' said Maestas.
The New Mexico Department of Justice also confirmed with KRQE News 13 on Wednesday that they're opening a review into financial concerns surrounding Mora County's finances. The county manager's office did not return KRQE News 13's call on Wednesday.
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