EPCOG issues no surprise to officials

Area officials said they were aware of Eastern Plains Council of Governments' failure to comply with federal- and state-mandated annual audits, but believed the benefits of the agency outweighed the problems.

The EPCOG board reviewed and approved the first of seven delinquent annual audit reports Wednesday that date back to 2005. The 2005 report concluded that virtually no accurate financial records were kept by EPCOG that year.

EPCOG helps county and municipal governments in seven in eastern New Mexico counties with planning and development. The organization collects dues from member municipalities and receives and distributes state and federal grants and appropriations.

Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said he became aware that EPCOG had not done audits in the summer of 2011, when it came time to pay the annual $7,300 dues.

Pyle said the Curry County Commission approved withholding payment of the July dues until they talked with the state auditor, which occurred in October. Pyle said at that time the state auditor was working with EPCOG toward resolving the missing audits. Pyle said the commission believes that EPCOG provides valuable services to smaller communities, who are short on government and professional personnel.

Union County Manager Angie Gonzales was a little less understanding.

"When I found out they hadn't done their audits, it was a bit unnerving," said Gonzales, who said she learned of the problem "a couple of years ago" but was not specific. "It always smelled fishy to me."

Gonzales said Union County is dropping its $1,217 EPCOG membership this year, which starts in July. "We haven't gotten any services from them for over five years." Gonzales said. Gonzales believes public servants should be held accountable for how they spend public money.

"People are sick and tired of having their money wasted and misappropriated," Gonzales said.

Jake Lopez, Roosevelt County commissioner, said the commission has been aware for many years of EPCOG's lack of mandated audits.

"We actually quit the organization at one time, for a couple of years," Lopez said. "But they really do help the small communities like Elida and Floyd and Dora."

Harding County administrator Vanita Menatace would agree.

Menatace said EPCOG has been invaluable to her county.

She said even though EPCOG has been short on funds due to its noncompliant audit status, it hasn't been short on help.

"We don't have an IT department," Menatace said. "But EPCOG sent us their IT team and helped us set up all our new computers."

Menatace said she was aware of the problems at EPCOG but "We keep hoping they can get it together."