Clark County audit finds $623K in unsent fees, years-long backlog in Public Administrator’s Office

A Clark County audit covering January 2024 through August 2026 found widespread operational failures in the Public Administrator's Office, which manages estates of people who die without a qualified person to administer them. The audit rated six of eight findings as high risk and made 23 recommendations. Auditors reported the office collected $623,000 in service fees from March 2024 through July 2026 but did not send the money to the county, ending a prior practice of monthly remittances. The office also holds 105 sets of human cremated remains with no plan for disposition.

Nearly 1,900 estate cases remain open, with 59% open more than two years, 315 exceeding five years, and 34 open longer than a decade. A random sample of the oldest cases showed 19 of 30 had no activity in the six months before June 30, 2026. The office also held 147 vehicles as of May, with 122 in custody over a year and 81 over three years, filling impound lots near capacity. The case management system listed 4,565 personal property records, 57% of which arrived before 2024.

The Clark County Audit Committee, comprising Commissioners Michael Naft, April Becker, and William McCurdy II, directed Public Administrator Rita Reid to work immediately with county management on an action plan. Reid, who has led the office since January 2023 and is not seeking reelection, did not respond to requests for comment. Auditors said they had requested a response from the office by Oct. 22 but received none. The county said it has tried for years to resolve the office's problems, including bringing in retired district attorneys and offering supplemental staffing, but "these solutions were not received by the Public Administrator."

The elected position has a tumultuous history: former Public Administrator Robert Telles murdered journalist Jeff German in 2022 after German investigated Telles' conduct. Interim administrator Mike Murphy, now a candidate for the office, said many current problems date to Telles' tenure and the resulting workplace turmoil. The county has previously asked the Legislature to make the position appointed rather than elected, citing difficulty overseeing an elected official's department. The audit committee chair requested a follow-up report at the start of next year.

Sources: Las Vegas Sun, The Nevada Independent