AUDIT UNCOVERS $61,000 OWED TO WAWARSING

Comptroller Auerbach Examines PILOT Payments

KINGSTON, NY (August 10, 2009)… A routine audit into PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILOT) by Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach uncovered $61,486.90 owed to the Town of Wawarsing from a 2007 PILOT agreement between the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency (UCIDA) and the Nevele Grande Hotel.

The Comptroller conducted a three year review with the help of Finance Commissioner Paul Hewitt and Head Account Clerk Brenna Lamoureux. The examination revealed a total of $104,554.98 in sporadic installment payments were received by the County Treasurer’s Office during 2008 but sums owed to the Town of Wawarsing for General and Highway taxes were never advanced. Auerbach informed Wawarsing officials that Ulster County will be forwarding payments of $24,341.88 for the Wawarsing General Fund and $37,145.02 for the Highway Fund.

Comptroller Auerbach continues to research other PILOT agreements to insure that the County and its Towns and Villages are not shortchanged.