NM audit finds ‘widespread’ mismanagement of Mora County’s wildfire recovery funds

A state audit found undisclosed conflicts, as well as misuse of "emergency" contracts and disaster loan interest payments, in Mora County.

By: Patrick Lohmann

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: April 28, 2026

Words: 1,299

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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A new audit released Monday by the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor found that Mora County officials mishandled millions of dollars in state disaster loans and also repeatedly skirted competitive bidding requirements to award contracts in a community where, as one county employee described it to auditors, residents are “all pretty much related in one way or another.”

State Auditor Joseph Maestas told Source NM on Tuesday that the audit’s 21 findings …

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