Yuma County approves outside counsel amid Treasurer Office spending review

Yuma County supervisors approved outside legal counsel Monday after an internal review of the Treasurer’s Office raised concerns about how public funds were used, putting taxpayer risk and county accountability at the center of a widening dispute.

The Board of Supervisors said the review, done with the County Attorney’s Office, identified several issues that required corrective action. Board Chairman Martin Porchas said county administration addressed the concerns after the review was completed, but Treasurer David Alexandre rejected the findings and hired his own lawyer.

That move created a conflict for the County Attorney’s Office, which normally represents county departments and elected officials. To avoid being forced to defend both sides of the dispute, county lawyers brought in Snell & Wilmer and supervisors authorized the county to pay for that outside representation.

County leaders said the decision was a standard step when an internal legal office cannot represent competing interests, but it also reflects how quickly a spending review can turn into a legal and financial problem for residents. No public lawsuit had been filed as of Monday, yet officials said they were preparing for that possibility. If the dispute escalates, county taxpayers could face more legal bills, and the fight could also raise new questions about financial controls inside an office that handles property tax information, delinquent taxes and tax lien sale matters.

The stakes are especially high because the Treasurer’s Office sits at the center of county revenue collection. County materials identify Alexandre as Yuma County Treasurer, and the office’s duties touch daily obligations for property owners across Yuma County. Any allegation involving public-fund handling is likely to draw close scrutiny because it affects both public trust and the county’s ability to show that money is being managed under policy and state law.

The Board of Supervisors, which has five elected members serving four-year terms, has broad authority under state law to adopt ordinances, levy taxes, appropriate funds, appoint certain officials and regulate development in unincorporated county areas. That makes its decision to hire outside counsel more than a routine legal move. It is also a signal that county leaders view the matter as a governance issue with possible financial consequences.

Yuma County publicly posts board meeting agendas and calendars, so further details could surface in future packets or minutes if the dispute continues. For now, the county has drawn a line between internal correction and external conflict, and the next step will determine whether the dispute stays an administrative fight or becomes a formal courtroom battle.