Santa Fe County commissioners approve FY24 audit, multiple design and construction contracts, grant applications and authorize condemnation proceedings

Santa Fe County's Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 14 approved the county's fiscal year 2024 audited financial statements and issued a series of contracts, grant endorsements and authorizations aimed at advancing transportation, trail and public-safety projects and completing utility infrastructure needed for a regional water system.

The board voted to acknowledge and approve the fiscal year 2024 audit after a presentation from Moss Adams and county finance staff that included five non-material findings under state audit rules. The board then approved a variety of procurement and grant-related items on the consent and miscellaneous agendas, including professional design agreements, a construction contract for a fire station apparatus bay expansion, multiple-term office-supply contracts and a request to apply for a federal Recreation Trails Program grant.

Why it matters: The fiscal audit approval clears the county to finalize its public financial reports and shows auditors issued unmodified opinions for the financial statements and the single-audit portion of the review. The assortment of design and construction approvals funds near-term capital projects (road design, trail design, a fire-station expansion) and supports county efforts to improve transit and broadband access. The board's authorization for condemnation proceedings addresses delays on the Pewaukee Basin Regional Water System by allowing the county to acquire small permanent utility easements where negotiations have stalled.

Key approved items and outcomes - Fiscal year 2024 audit: The board acknowledged and approved the FY24 audits after a presentation by Moss Adams (reporters: Corey…