New Mexico State Auditor's special audit found Mora County withdrew $3.04 million in interest on wildfire-recovery loans without proper tracking and called a $168,359 theater renovation a waste and abuse of public funds

A forensic special audit by Carr, Riggs & Ingram for the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor, transmitted to the Mora County commission on April 27, 2026, covers January 2020 through May 2025. It reports the county withdrew $3,044,278.33 in interest earned on Senate Bill 6 disaster-recovery loan funds, did not properly record the deposits or accurately track their use, and spent $168,359.09 on the privately owned Chief Theater without following procurement policies, which the auditors call a waste and abuse of public funds.