Vision for the Future: Raising the Bar for Public Accountability in New Mexico
From day one, our mission has been clear: make government work better for the people it serves.
We’ve delivered—uncovering millions in waste, tightening financial oversight, and setting a new standard for transparency and accountability in New Mexico.
But accountability is not a finish line—it’s a commitment.
As New Mexico faces new fiscal and ethical challenges, we must reimagine how government oversight works. That’s why the Office of the State Auditor is charting a bold, forward-looking course focused on modernizing systems, eliminating inefficiencies, and protecting every taxpayer dollar with purpose and precision.
Our Next Chapter: Priorities for a Stronger, Smarter Government
✓ Ensure Audit Findings Lead to Real Consequences
Misused funds. Fraud. Abuse of power. These aren’t just line items—they’re breaches of public trust. We are strengthening ties with law enforcement and prosecutors to make sure criminal misconduct is investigated and prosecuted without delay.
✓ Continue Streamlining Operations Through Technology Integration
Optimize limited staff resources by integrating emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence into financial audit operations.
✓ Mainstream the Small Local Public Body (sLPB) Assistance Program
Continue providing accelerated, direct assistance to sLPBs to completely eliminate the backlog of annual financial certifications and free up withheld capital outlay and pave the way for applications of new funding sources.
✓ Modernize the New Mexico Audit Act
The Audit Act is the backbone of financial accountability in our state—but it hasn’t been updated since 2011. We will lead the charge to modernize this critical law, making audits faster, clearer, and more effective for today’s realities.
✓ Streamline Audits with a “Singular Audit” Model
We’re building a smarter audit system that consolidates overlapping reviews into one unified process—cutting red tape, reducing costs, and giving elected officials, federal agencies and watchdogs clearer, timelier insight into how public funds are used.
✓ Bring Back the Program Evaluation Function
Re-establish the program evaluation function that previously existed in the Office of the State Auditor. This function would reside under the Government Accountability Office Director’s Office.
✓ Tackle the CPA Workforce Shortage
New Mexico is facing a critical shortage of licensed auditors and CPAs. We’ll expand partnerships with universities and firms to build a more robust, diverse pipeline—equipping the next generation of professionals to safeguard public dollars.
Expand the crackdown on fraud, waste and abuse— increase the special investigations and audits to protect your fair share of taxpayer money and services.
✓ Invest in the Talent That Protects Your Tax Dollars
Auditing is a people-first profession. We’ll fight for competitive salaries and career development for public auditors and forensic accountants—because great oversight starts with great public servants.
A Government That Works—Because It’s Held Accountable
This office doesn’t belong to politicians. It belongs to the people of New Mexico.
That’s why every action we take, every audit we launch, and every reform we pursue is guided by one principle: accountability is not a talking point—it’s a public duty.
As your State Auditor, I remain committed to ensuring that every cent is spent wisely, every violation is exposed, and every New Mexican can trust their government to serve with integrity.
Because every dollar spent should reflect the trust of the people who earned it.
"…the office of state auditor was created and exists for the basic purpose of having a completely independent representative of the people, accountable to no one else, with the power, duty and authority to examine and pass upon the activities of state officers and agencies who, by law, receive and expend public moneys."
New Mexico Supreme Court Opinion
Thompson v. Legislative Audit Commission, 1968