Even after state Auditor Hector Balderas warned 71 local agencies including schools and cities that their audits are late, 34 groups haven't turned in audit reports — and haven't explained to his office why not.

In an attempt to remedy the situation, Balderas said Thursday he will forward the names of those scofflaw agencies to the Attorney General's Office.

"I think it's really egregious that we identified them as at-risk, asked them to submit a report and they didn't submit a report," Balderas said. "I'm very concerned. I don't think a private citizen would stand for a bank that could only provide them financial activities that are years old. You'd immediately take your money out of the bank."

The agencies range from school districts to villages, towns and flood-control districts across the state. They include Española Public Schools and Mora County, representatives of which didn't return calls Thursday. The Northern New Mexico school district hasn't been audited since 2006, according to the Auditor's Office, while Mora County hasn't turned in an audit since 2007, records show.

Two of the groups on the list haven't been audited since as far back as 2002, according to Balderas' office.

Balderas said he's forwarding the names to the Attorney General's Office with the hopes it can get the agencies to respond and conduct audits.

There are no sanctions, however, for agencies that skip audits, something Balderas said he'd like to change. He'd also like to see lawmakers start withholding the budgets of groups with outstanding audits.

"These agencies are using taxpayer dollars and they should be accountable," he said. "These dollars have been spent and they are not accounting for it ... that's egregious and unacceptable."

Balderas said he also plans to let legislators know about agencies that are at-risk in hopes they see the need for penalties for those who flout his office.

As for the groups that did respond to Balderas' deadline this week with updates on why they haven't been audited, many outlined the struggles they are having either finding an auditor or paying for one.

"We'll try to find auditors for them, we'll try to expedite contract approvals," he said.

However, that could prove tough for his office, which is facing budget cutbacks of its own. He said a measure approved by lawmakers in the recent special session could mean $500,000 is "swept" from an auditing fund, if Gov. Bill Richardson signs it.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.