Sheriff urges forensic audit after county comptroller flags $7.8–$8.7M shortfall

Sheriff Joe McGill told the Nye County Board of Commissioners on April 28 that recent accounting has revealed a significant budget gap — roughly $7 million in the county detention center and about $13 million countywide — and asked the board to refer the matter to the state comptroller and Nevada Division of Investigation for a forensic audit and independent review. "I respectfully ask that this issue be forwarded to the state comptroller's office and the Nevada division of investigation for a thorough and complete investigation to include a forensic audit as to the shortfall," McGill said.

Comptroller Zena later outlined the tentative FY27 general fund: roughly $56 million in revenues for the general fund, projected expenditures of $58.3 million, transfers of about $10.5 million and a total outlay approaching $69.5–$69.9 million. After accounting for positions, promotions and potential reductions in service and supplies, the comptroller presented a working deficit estimate the board discussed in the workshop (she later summarized a $7.8M starting shortfall and then noted the deficit figure had grown to roughly $8.7M when further adjustments were included). The comptroller walked commissioners through scenarios showing 10–25% reductions in service and supplies would yield between $1.3M and $3.5M in savings.

Commissioners pressed for detail on where the shortfall originated and whether previously added positions and ICE contract changes had contributed. The comptroller and the sheriff both cited legacy staffing and the loss of federal contract revenue as contributors; the comptroller said 29 positions had been added when the county held an ICE contract and "none of that's been reeled back" after the contract ended, contributing more than $2M of the gap. Commissioners directed staff to continue analysis, to explore external review options and to return with more detailed reconciliations and options for balancing the budget.