Eddy County commissioners approve staff pay and benefits, accept clean audit, award economic development contracts and clear surplus properties

Eddy County commissioners on a regular meeting held in April approved a package of personnel and budget measures, accepted the county’s 2023–24 financial audit, awarded a two-vendor economic development services contract and authorized the sale of several former county fire stations.

The actions follow a detailed presentation of the county’s year‑end financial statements and a wide-ranging preliminary review of the fiscal 2025–26 budget. Commissioners voted on multiple resolutions and routine items during the meeting; key decisions included a 5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county employees, adding a county contribution to employee health insurance premiums and granting 40 hours of personal leave credit to employees effective July 1.

The audit presentation, delivered by AJ, a partner with the county’s auditing firm, described the independent opinion as “unmodified,” meaning the auditor concluded the financial statements were fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The auditors reported no findings rising to the level of reported internal‑control deficiencies under Government Auditing Standards, and no findings related to the federal program they tested (COVID‑19 local assistance and tribal consistency fund). Commissioners voted to accept the audit and file it with the state.

Why it matters: The budget and benefit decisions set the county’s compensation and staffing posture for the coming year and affect recruitment, particularly for detention, sheriff and fire positions that the county said are hard to fill. The audit acceptance confirms external reviewers found the county’s statements reliable, which matters for transparency and any future financing.

County finance highlights and budget direction

County finance staff presented a preliminary countywide revenue figure of about $236 million for fiscal 2025–26. The proposal includes about $67 million in gross‑receipts tax (GRT) and an oil‑and‑gas projection of approximately $65.8 million in production receipts…