FOR RELEASE:

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today that the following audits have been issued:

Department of Correctional Services Mid-Orange Correctional Facility: Selected Late Vendor Payments (2008-S-71)
Under the prompt payment law, vendors may receive interest on their payments from New York State when the payments are not timely. Auditors examined a sample of untimely vendor payments made by Mid-Orange Correctional Facility over a three-year period and found that the delays were avoidable.

Department of Correctional Services Green Haven Correctional Facility: Late Vendor Payments (2007-S-132)
Under the Prompt Payment Law, vendors may receive interest on their payments from New York State when the payments are not timely. Auditors examined a sample of untimely vendor payments made by Green Haven Correctional Facility over a 28-month period and found the delays were avoidable.

New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority Selected Financial and Management Practices (2006-S-124)
The New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority was created in 1984 to finance capital improvements to New York City’s municipal water and sewer system. Auditors examined whether the authority had established adequate internal controls over its major financial operations and whether the authority’s board of directors had complied with state requirements for board governance. Auditors found that improvements were needed in certain financial controls and in certain board governance practices. For example, contract award decisions were not always adequately documented and three Board members had not received required training in their legal, fiduciary, financial and ethical responsibilities.

New York City Department of Education: Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance in New York City Public Schools (2007-N-21)
As of September 1, 2006, all schools in New York State were required by law to purchase and use cleaning products that minimize the potential impacts to human health and the environment. Auditors examined whether the New York City Department of Education, which operates 1,236 schools and related facilities, complied with this law. Auditors found that the department was a year late in complying with the law, but had begun to comply in a sample of facilities. However, the facilities cleaned by contractors were not always purchasing and using environmentally sensitive cleaning products, and the leased facilities auditors visited generally were not purchasing and using such products because none of the landlords had been informed about the new requirements.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: Internal Controls Over Park Use Permits at the Long Island Region (2007-S-80)
Park Use Permits are required for many of the recreational, promotional, and other types of activities commonly conducted at state parks. Each park region is responsible for developing a comprehensive fee schedule for these permits, and is expected to charge fees in accordance with the schedule. However, auditors found the Long Island Region’s fee schedule was not comprehensive, as no fee was specified for many of the activities needing permits. As a result, varying fees (and in some cases, no fees) were charged.

Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives: Quality of Internal Control Certification (2008-S-105)
The Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives oversees the state’s probation programs and helps fund alternative-to-incarceration programs that are intended to reduce reliance on detention and incarceration. Auditors examined the adequacy of the division’s internal controls certification of compliance for the year ended March 31, 2008 and found that certain improvements were needed.

Division of Veterans’ Affairs: Quality of Internal Control Certification (2008-S-115)
The Division of Veterans’ Affairs was created to coordinate programs and activities that aid members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. Auditors examined the adequacy of the division’s internal controls certification of compliance for the year ended March 31, 2008 and found that certain improvements were needed.

Executive Order 111, which was issued in June 2001, requires all State agencies to purchase a certain portion of their electricity (at least 10 percent by 2005 and 20 percent by 2010) from renewable sources. Audits examined compliance with Executive Order 111 and found:

• Dormitory Authority of the State of New York: Compliance with Executive Order 111 Requirements to Purchase Power from Renewable Energy Sources (2008-S-77) Dormitory Authority of the State of New York was in compliance with the Executive Order 111. It had already substantially exceeded the 20 percent target.
• Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Compliance with Executive Order 111 Requirements to Purchase Power from Renewable Energy Sources (2008-S-79) Division of Military and Naval Affairs purchased some of its power from renewable sources, but not enough to meet the 10 percent target. However, the division has increased its purchases of such power since the audit was commenced.
• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Compliance with Executive Order 111 Requirements to Purchase Power from Renewable Energy Sources (2008-S-82) Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority was slow to begin purchasing power from renewable sources, but once it started purchasing such power, it quickly exceeded the 10 percent target and has even exceeded the 20 percent target.
• Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Compliance with Executive Order 111 Requirements to Purchase Power from Renewable Energy Sources (2008-S-73) The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased some of its power from renewable sources, but not enough to meet the 10 percent target. Moreover, while the office had developed a plan for meeting the 20 percent target, auditors found the plan may not be effective because it appears that the office has not accurately estimated its future energy needs. Auditors also identified significant weaknesses in the office’s reporting of its renewable energy purchases, as internal reports were often inaccurate and external reports had not been submitted to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, as required by the Executive Order
• State University of New York: Compliance with Executive Order 111 Requirements to Purchase Power from Renewable Energy Sources (2008-S-76) SUNY purchased some of its power from renewable sources, but not enough to meet the 10 percent target. Moreover, while SUNY had developed plans for meeting both the 10 and 20 percent targets, the plans had not been enacted due to a lack of resources. Auditors also identified several inaccuracies in SUNY’s reported purchases of renewable energy.

State Agency and Public Authority Audits
The Office of the State Comptroller regularly audits state agencies and public authorities. Auditors ensure that programs achieve their established goals, funds are used efficiently and assets are adequately protected against fraud, waste and abuse. DiNapoli’s office completes approximately 200 state audits and annually identifies hundreds of millions in savings and fraud each year.

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