Residents press Curry County commissioners on legal fees, consultants and a missed grant
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Summary
Multiple public commenters at the Nov. 5 meeting pressed commissioners about rising legal fees, consultant contracts, a $330,000 lost grant and the scope and cost of a proposed forensic audit, asking for clearer public reporting and accountability.
At the Nov. 5 Curry County Board of Commissioners meeting, four public commenters pressed the board for more transparency about legal spending, consultant contracts and the county's finances, and several said the county had lost a $330,000 grant tied to jail‑based opioid disorder services.
Dee Ragsdale, a Curry County resident, asked the board to explain a marked increase in legal services and insurance costs, naming several firms and contracts and asking "why do we have so much legal services that are needed?" She also questioned a proposed finance/accounting services contract listed at roughly $130,000 for the current year with follow‑on amounts and requested more detailed expenditure reporting from staff.
Andre Bay referenced a recent news article and Judge Stone's ruling and said the county lost a $330,000 grant because the sheriff did not provide a public‑safety update; the board concurred that the grant was lost and said it had sought the sheriff's participation before applying. George Cockerham and Bruce Cockerham both called for a thorough forensic audit and more public accountability related to alleged accounting errors spanning 2020–2024.
Commissioners responded by defending actions taken to reconcile past accounting problems, noting earlier errors attributed to the prior treasurer and explaining that most payments had been made but from incorrect accounts. The board said a forensic audit (REDW) had been discussed and that counsel and staff would work to ensure auditors get needed records and to publish the trial transcript and related documents to the county website.
The meeting produced no immediate new appropriations; commissioners offered to meet with concerned residents to walk through expenditure details and asked staff to provide clearer documentation on consultant contracts and audit scopes.