[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6164374,"mediaKeyId","5428757-cb2e35296d684f10550e7f325ec0cf8b","parentId",5428757,"title","Santa Cruz County finance leaders outline reforms after former-treasurer embezzlement, set budget schedule","audioSeconds",317,"startMs",320000,"endMs",637000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428757-cb2e35296d684f10550e7f325ec0cf8b&start=320&end=637","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428757-cb2e35296d684f10550e7f325ec0cf8b/thumbnail_320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164374/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Santa-Cruz-County-finance-leaders-outline-reforms-after-former-treasurer-embezzlement-set-budget-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164374-5d9a1b804829e17b84a2bf7ec5342a74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443069&Signature=DxI7M2xB406Q-cipfWHYhVLGpNQJPPIjOkk7SlVAYsySt1VHRiytcvFJhFuq3~BWC0uMhJwYEy-StmnHmJOiLBHeGneLm4YroT4aS0kqr-I579ANpzjcqfyUXaP9SFsW3V2QHXNUC4XI3QroKrFLMAsGY28-VVXN0ywgiKhbC8Yfq3m4cTG8577~BJ0Hmcmj3QAU30G8N56jKiBRx182QLW8fnsT~eOsyXI0PQBQfyBl1UUbrwlWPrYXfTU5LBSFMOEQOqB2CnrRzHCVkic1IuPe7LeHueczL1iECB56pqsJdPStOHmiXxmgMFrf6TLEf7lE5gAF~ajZ6VYBc5cGVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Santa Cruz County, AZ ","date","2025-07-19T11:20:35.74Z","article","Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Marissa Chavez said Santa Cruz County is implementing new financial controls and working closely with auditors and consultants after an embezzlement by the county's former treasurer.

\"It's the embezzlement by the former treasurer. That's been a situation that has really put on a really, a dark cloud over us,\" Chavez said. She said the finance office is recording the loss and moving to implement policies and procedures intended to prevent a repeat.

The department described its audit and year-end work in detail. Chavez said the county closed its fiscal year on June 30 and that staff worked late into the night to complete year-end reconciliations. \"We were here probably a little bit past almost close to midnight, trying to make sure that everything happens and everything is, in a manner that it closes as best according to accounting principles,\" she said.

Assistant Finance Director Maria Martinez described several steps the office has taken to strengthen internal controls, including new policies, closer work with external auditors and financial consultants, and clearer separation of duties in the payroll system. \"That's really called a segregation of duties,\" Martinez said, explaining that payroll access and rate-setting are handled by human resources and that finance only processes what HR enters.

Chavez and Martinez also summarized how the county manages funds and the budgeting calendar. Chavez said the county manages about 226 funds, and that the general fund includes roughly 28 departments. She described the fiscal year as July 1 through June 30 and said the county is preparing its candidate budget presentation for the board on July 8. The county will post the budget for public review and comment and is targeting Aug. 5 for final board approval.

Both leaders said they are focusing on transparency and accountability as the county moves forward. Chavez said staff have prioritized documenting and reporting the loss and that the department is training staff and revising procedures across departments. Martinez said the work has required long hours from finance staff: \"We're here about 10 to 12 hours a day. We're here working on the weekends.\"

The county did not specify the dollar amount of the loss or the current status of any criminal or civil proceedings related to the former treasurer; Chavez said only that the loss is being recorded and that the department is moving forward with internal reforms.

The finance office encouraged the public to review the candidate budget after the July 8 presentation and to provide comment during the public-review window before the Aug. 5 final-board action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Deputy County Manager Mauricio Chavez and Maria I. Martinez, Assistant Finance Director","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Marissa Chavez said Santa Cruz County is implementing new financial controls and working closely with auditors and consultants after an embezzlement by the county's former treasurer.","taxTitle","Santa Cruz County, Arizona","taxId",27865,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164369,"Santa Cruz County interns praise Gear Up-funded summer program; county staff cite board support",0,957000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428757-cb2e35296d684f10550e7f325ec0cf8b&start=957&end=957","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428757-cb2e35296d684f10550e7f325ec0cf8b/thumbnail_957000.jpg","/articles/6164369/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Santa-Cruz-County-interns-praise-Gear-Up-funded-summer-program-county-staff-cite-board-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164369-f483d639985a4377babd08c06f27b875/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443069&Signature=Ap5cYpfLQ8dCXev6ltSUB0mK3evBmsrpnIG4km3cD6MMxV8xUD9hTR8sLVd-JS9e1PkyLUUwabOGl4fLCzx67Tky8j5nklT9CkXhyFLqM3MHshLDHB~0o0AvRHtC40rfjjylrHgtq1rOjdAD03vuQlZycU8ZKeWZfvNoDHmD7IDLDo7u9zSjkU61p9zjrRPXRJULYvq42NawcXbvJBfZK8VoUu3rOU0B-gGJE95rQ5vAs2sjCkiCW0YjRZlCuQWoz2PYuPc2qVVBX9c5-GQPAAW5Ybjn3FpgUFZf0Ps8TcER4qg86OaRq8FAsGe9oGsfEvA6xuj1aqnsR174wY6ubw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Student interns and podcast hosts described a county summer internship supported by the Gear Up program and approved by the county Board of Supervisors.

A student intern said the program provided real-world experience, networking and improved public-speaking skills. \"I've learned so much,\" an intern said, adding that the experience helped build connections across county offices and the old courthouse.

Another intern said they were \"really grateful\" that the Gear Up program and the board supported the internship; the intern also noted school-district involvement and thanked Superintendent Alfredo Velasquez, who the intern said is retiring.

Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Marissa Chavez and Assistant Finance Director Maria Martinez told hosts that county staff appreciate the program and noted the board's 100% support for funding the internship.

The interns described future plans: one will attend Northern Arizona University to study biomedical sciences and another plans to attend a community college for liberal arts and communications. Hosts said some interns may be offered longer-term placements pending further decisions.

The podcast hosts and county staff encouraged students to apply skills learned during the internship and noted the program is a collaboration among the county, the school district and Gear Up. The recording did not specify the grant amount or contract terms for the program.","Student interns described hands-on experience, networking and potential long-term placements from a summer internship funded by the Gear Up program and supported by the county Board of Supervisors. County staff thanked supervisors and program funders.","actionData","errors"]

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Santa Cruz County finance leaders outline reforms after former-treasurer embezzlement, set budget schedule

Santa Cruz County interns praise Gear Up-funded summer program; county staff cite board support