FOLLOWING THE (LOCAL STIMULUS) MONEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…March 26, 2010


Three Area Projects Are Commended

Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach has received notice that three local municipal projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) have been commended by the Office of the New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for following “sound procurement procedures when awarding contracts.”

The City of Kingston, the Village of Ellenville and the County of Ulster are among the eight audited local government projects in the Hudson Valley that “adhered to bidding laws and appropriately awarded their ARRA highway projects to the lowest responsible bidder,” according to Auerbach. “The Office of the State Comptroller report emphasized that the three entities are an example of how competitive bidding not only fosters healthy competition and the lowest possible price, but guards against favoritism, extravagance and fraud,” said Comptroller Auerbach.

The three projects total nearly six million dollars and include the pedestrian waterfront walkway for Kingston ($1,244,494.00), the Beckley Bridge in Ellenville (($992,000.00) and the CR77 bridge over the Rondout for the County ($3,870,733.00).

A copy of the report can be found on Comptroller Auerbach’s website at
www.ulstercountyny.gov/resources/comptroller

THE RIGHT TO RECONCILE

Ulster comptroller’s office adds second pair of eyes on county bank accounts

KINGSTON – The Ulster County comptroller’s office has begun performing bank reconciliation reports each month on the county’s 28 bank accounts holding some $64 million.

The county finance commissioner’s office is in charge of those accounts on a day to day basis, but Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said his office provides an independent look at the financial statements.

“What this is going to do is us a bird’s eye if there is any fraud, and malfeasance, any questionable deposits and withdrawals or handling of money,” he said. “It’s a second set of eyes, so to speak, so at the end of the month, the reconciliation process serves to really protect the taxpayers of Ulster County.”

To this point, Auerbach said his office has found no problems with the county’s bank accounts.
(Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc)

SHAMROCK RUN 03.14.2010

A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY...FOR THE AOH...FOR TEAM IRELAND...FOR CARING HANDS SOUP KITCHEN
The Kingston News Blog: Kingston's 2010 St Patrick's Day Parade ( Photos/videos )
Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach. "TEAM AUERBACH"
Photos/videos by Clark Richters check it out at http://ucpnews.blogspot.com/

Ulster County overtime hours piled up during snowstorms - The Daily Freeman News: Serving the Hudson Valley since 1871(DailyFreeman.com)

Ulster County overtime hours piled up during snowstorms - The Daily Freeman News: Serving the Hudson Valley since 1871(DailyFreeman.com)

Posted using ShareThis

ALBANY'S AXE THRASHES ULSTER COUNTY TOURISM ECONOMY

Closing historic sites in Ulster would cost the county millions, says county comptroller

KINGSTON – Should the Senate House, Minnewaska State Park and the Walkway Over the Hudson close completely or partially as proposed in the state plans to help curb the state deficit, it would cost Ulster County tens of thousands of dollars.

County comptroller Elliott Auerbach ran the numbers and said it would cost the county over $250,000 in sales tax and tens of thousands of dollars in hotel and motel occupancy tax.

“I have to believe that the governor is, as someone said, looking for change under the sofa cushion in an attempt to keep New York State afloat,” said Auerbach. “What he fails to take into consideration is the huge financial blow and larger economic impact these closures will have on Ulster.”

Aside from the economic impact on the county, 42 fulltime and seasonal employees would get the axe.

Auerbach suggested that instead of shutting down the facilities, that Senate and Assembly members trim back 10 percent of their member items to keep the park venues fully operational. He also suggested the state seek corporate underwriters to fund the historic venues and parks instead of shutting them down.
(Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc)