NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF

ULSTER COUNTY COMPTROLLER

ELLIOTT AUERBACH
ELLIOTT AUERBACH COUNTY COMPTROLLER 244 FAIR STREET KINGSTON, NEW YORK 12401 PHONE: 845: 340-3529 eaue@co.ulster,ny.us
www.co.ulster.ny.us/resources/comptroller

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EXEC IS TOLD TAXPAYERS DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY

National Auditors Association Supports County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach

KINGSTON, NY (November 12, 2012)

The National Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) has weighed in on the County Executives Budget Departments attempt to eliminate a third of Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbachs auditing staff warning that the move would undermine the assurance that scarce tax dollars would be protected by Auerbachs audits, reviews and evaluations. The ALGA supports the Comptrollers good government practices with their underlying theme that Taxpayers Deserve Accountability. In a letter to Executive Michael Hein, the ALGA echoed Auerbachs sentiments that his Departments audits deter fraud, identifies waste and abuse and strengthens internal controls. Comptroller Auerbach has appeared at three Legislative Public Hearings explaining that Heins proposed staff reductions would nearly abolish the claims auditing unit and compromise the audit and review of nearly 60,000 annual claims against the county totaling close to $300 million. The ALGA underscored that by explaining that the Comptroller plays a key role in effective governance and public accountability. The twenty-three member legislature can amend the Executives budget and restore the claims auditing function. Its my hope that the Legislature will help me protect the integrity and transparency of County government, said Auerbach. I want the County to make headlines preventing losses, not neglecting them. We need to prevent fraud, not clean up after it.

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The mission of the Ulster County Comptrollers Office is to serve as an independent agency of the people and to protect the public interest by monitoring County government and to assess and report on the degree to which its operation is economical, efficient and its financial condition sound.