State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office reviewed 1,422 contracts valued at $1 billion and approved more than 4.5 million payments worth nearly $8.5 billion in April. His office also rejected 119 contracts and related transactions valued at $90 million and nearly 4,600 payments valued at more than $7.8 million due to fraud, waste or improprieties.

As the state’s chief financial officer, DiNapoli’s office reviews contracts for all state agencies and certain contracts for state public authorities and audits all state payments. This independent review ensures that costs are reasonable, the playing field is level and taxpayers get the best value for their money. The independent audits ensure payments are free from fraud, waste and improprieties. The Comptroller’s office averages 11 to 13 days for contract reviews and two days to audit payments.

DiNapoli releases this monthly notice to provide current information about the number and types of contracts and payments entered into by the state. This builds on his commitment to added transparency via his Open Book New York website.

Highlights for April 2014:

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Transportation Highway Construction

• Approved a $126.2 million contract with Tully Construction to rehabilitate the Major Deegan Expressway.
• Approved an $11.2 million contract with Rifenburg Construction to rehabilitate and reconstruct Whiteface Mountain Veteran’s Memorial Highway.
• Approved a $9.7 million contract with ALAC Contracting Corp. for bridge rehabilitation at Patchogue Road over the Long Island Expressway in Brookhaven.
• Approved a $5.8 million contract with Economy Paving for bridge rehabilitation at Routes 5, 20 and 89 in City of Geneva and Town of Tyre.

Office of General Services Sale of Surplus Property

• Approved a $5 million contract with April Holdings LLC for the sale of 350 Carleton Ave. in the Town of Islip.

Office of Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation

• Approved a cooperative agreement with the New York State Urban Development Corp. to operate and maintain the Buffalo Harbor State Park.
• Approved a $5.8 million contract with Yarussi Construction Inc. for site improvements to Niagara Falls State Park.

Office of Homeland Security Grants

• Approved a $10.4 million award to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under the Urban Area Security Initiative Program.
• Approved a $2.3 million award to Fulton County for public safety inter-operable communications.

Superstorm Sandy Social Services Block Grants

• Approved a $2.2 million Office of Temporary and Disability grant to Assistance Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica.
• Approved an $878,000 Office of Children and Family Services grant to New York Council on Adoptable Children.
• Approved a $786,000 Department of Health grant to Glen Arden Nursing Home
• Approved a $767,000 Office of Mental Health grant to The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund.
• Approved a $269,000 Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance grant to Círculo De La Hispanidad.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• Approved more than 3.2 million personal income tax refunds worth $3.2 billion, and more than 44,600 corporate and other refunds valued at nearly $102.5 million.

Disaster Relief

• Paid $10.2 million to Adjusters International Inc. for disaster relief services.
• Paid $2.4 million to Long Beach Medical Center and more than $760,000 to Jacob Javits Convention Center for repairs and remediation as a result of damage from Superstorm Sandy.

Capital Projects

• Approved $20.6 million for capital improvements to Ralph Wilson Stadium, the home of the Buffalo Bills.
• Approved $4.3 million for the 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center site.
• Paid $4.3 million to Halmar International and A. Servidone-B. Anthony Construction Corp. JV for Patroon Island Bridge rehabilitation between Rensselaer and Albany.

Local Government Assistance

• Approved $11 million for Madison County to settle tax claims related to the Oneida Nation settlement.

Health

• Paid more than $13.4 million to Maximus Inc. to assist with the State’s Health Benefit Exchange ($11.3 million), the Medicaid and Child Health Plus Insurance Program Enrollment Center ($1.8 million) and other programs.

Energy

• Paid $17 million in federal home heating benefits to nearly 38,000 low-income New Yorkers for home heating costs or heat related energy emergencies.

Contract and Payment Rejections

The Comptroller’s office rejected 119 contract transactions valued at $90 million because they lacked the required verifications, and rejected nearly 4,600 payments valued at more than $7.8 million due to fraud, waste and other improprieties. This includes 3,353 tax refunds valued at more than $6.4 million.

Open Book New York

For access to billions of dollars in state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visit http://www.openbooknewyork.com/. The easy-to-use website was created by Comptroller DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.