KINGSTON – An audit of the Ulster County CARES I program to provide aid for businesses impacted by COVID-19 found “significant issues” with the awarding of funds, County Comptroller March Gallagher said Monday.
The audit found discrepancies from the intent of the relief plan, she said.
“Eight ineligible businesses were made awards, ineligibility based on not being Ulster County residents or making too much income,” she said. “We found that the use of the funds, we felt, may have deviated from legislative priorities.”
The audit found one case where funds were used to fit up an Airbnb and another instance where a potentially fraudulent award resulted in a $15,000 loss to county taxpayers.
Gallagher said the county must “redouble our efforts to ensure that program implementation is aligned with legislative intent.
The county had planned a CARES II but that was delayed pending the outcome of the audit of the first program.
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