An annual independent audit of finances at the office of New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has taken note of a peculiar, century-old fund used for social events that is off limits from review.
State Auditor Tim Keller highlighted results Tuesday of the independent audit that shows excess balances in the governor's so-called contingency fund are rolled over from year to year without legal justification.
Public accounting firm Axiom LLC was chosen by the governor's office to perform the audit for fiscal year 2015. It says an excess balance of $66,000 was rolled over into the current fiscal year and recommended unspent funds be returned to central state coffers instead.
A spokesman for the governor's office says no audit has raised the issue before and that the governor follows longstanding precedent.
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