Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The county was honored for audit accountability.
From left, State Auditor Wayne Johnson, New Mexico Association of Counties President Susan Flores present Sue Dowell, Cheryl Simpson, Patsy Gresham and Franklin McCasland with the NMAC Audit Accountability Award.
Quay County was one of seven counties selected by the New Mexico Association of Counties and State Auditor Wayne Johnson to receive the annual Audit Accountability Award.
"This is a tremendous honor that reflects the dedication and efficiency of the employees of our county," said Franklin McCasland, Quay County Commission chair.
This is Quay County's third time to win the award since the inception of the award in 2011.
"Much of the credit for this award goes to outstanding work done by Cheryl Simpson," said Richard Primrose, county manager.
Primrose said Simpson's dedication to her duties as Quay County's Finance Director is what has led to the county receiving such recognition for a third time.
Quay and Curry Counties received unmodified opinions with zero findings in 2016.
The awards were given out by the NMAC during Thursday's Legislative Conference in Santa Fe.
"These counties are to be commended for their fiscal responsibility and high level of accountability," said Steve Kopelman, NMAC Executive Director. "Receiving this award is an outstanding accomplishment."
According to NMAC news release: the awards are given in recognition to large, mid-size, and small counties that have done outstanding work on their audits, submitted their audits in a timely manner, and have sustained excellence with the highest audit opinions. In addition, an award is given to the most improved county.
Those counties also selected were Doña Ana, Curry, Chaves, Los Alamos, Guadalupe and Roosevelt.
This is the first year for Roosevelt County to receive the award. Roosevelt also received the Most Improved County Award with an unmodified opinion and only three findings in FY 2016, an amazing improvement from FY 2015 with multiple opinions and 14 findings, and a testament to County Manager Amber Hamilton's leadership.
"These awards highlight the efforts of counties to be good stewards of public monies," Johnson said "More importantly, they show a commitment to excellence that has a direct and tangible benefit to the people they serve."
