The State Steps in

New Mexico Finance Secretary Tom Clifford last week suspended two Sunland Park officials and took over their duties after a special state audit found widespread municipal fraud and the misuse of city funds.

The city of 13,000 is in Dona Ana County, across the state line from El Paso, Texas. It has no rated debt.

Clifford suspended finance director Helen Gonzalez and purchasing agent Neryza Rivera.

Sunland Park Mayor pro tem Isabel Santos said the audit is the first step to restoring the city’s reputation. The city currently does not have a mayor after Mayor-elect Daniel Salinas’ recent arrest on extortion charges involving a political rival.

State auditor Hector Balderas said the 83-page report contained 27 separate instances of questionable spending. He said investigators have yet to determine the total amount of money involved.

“This is a tragedy for the taxpayers and the residents of Sunland Park and it is a tragedy on how not to govern,” Balderas said. “It’s a city in chaos at this point.”

He said investigators found that more than $42,000 was spent for alcohol and prostitutes by Salinas and another city official during a lobbying trip in Mexico.

Auditors found that the City Council in 2010 forgave $200,000 of residential utility bills in violation of state law.

Gov. Susana Martinez said the investigation into Sunland Park’s finances will continue. “The extraordinary level of financial mismanagement in Sunland Park is unacceptable,” she said.

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New Mexico
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