The federal and state governments have repaid the city of Auburn for almost $1 million in outstanding grant money. And city officials didn't have to hire any muscle to collect the dough.
According to Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh, $862,777.99 has been returned to Auburn for various transportation department projects dating as far back as 1999. Almost $21,000 came from the state of New York, while the remaining amount is federal money.
The grants accounted for work on South and Genesee streets, the Lake Avenue bridge and the Arterial greenway.
Palesh said Friday that the recovery is the result of city staff filing large amounts of paperwork and meeting with officials in Syracuse and Albany.
“We put the full court press on them,” he said.
Palesh also said during Thursday's city council meeting that city staff has made a “great effort” collecting on these past-due bills.
These are the same grants an Ithaca accounting firm found the city had not recovered because it failed to file or follow up on the proper paperwork. In a financial audit released February of this year, Ciaschi, Dietershagen, Little, Mickelson & Company stated that Auburn was missing out on approximately $920,000 in reimbursements.
Almost $68,500 was not collected from the original grants due to calculation errors, legal interpretation and other issues, Palesh said.
Michael Long, former director of capital projects and grants, took some criticism after the audit was released. Long is now the city administrator in Poughkeepsie.
But there were various reasons why the city had not already secured the grants, according to Palesh. Changes in positions at the state transportation department and communication issues contributed to the miscues, he said.
There has to be constant follow-through with these matters, Palesh continued. Sometimes months will go by while both parties are waiting for replies from one another, he said.
“We're right up to speed,” Palesh said. “I don't think we'll have that problem in the future.”
Project State funds* Federal funds*
Arterial greenway $0 $55,180
Lake Avenue Bridge $250 $38,637.91
South Street $20,516 $206,192.21
Genesee Street $0 $542,001.35
* Amount received since Jan. 1 2008
The grants accounted for work on South and Genesee streets, the Lake Avenue bridge and the Arterial greenway.
Palesh said Friday that the recovery is the result of city staff filing large amounts of paperwork and meeting with officials in Syracuse and Albany.
“We put the full court press on them,” he said.
Palesh also said during Thursday's city council meeting that city staff has made a “great effort” collecting on these past-due bills.
These are the same grants an Ithaca accounting firm found the city had not recovered because it failed to file or follow up on the proper paperwork. In a financial audit released February of this year, Ciaschi, Dietershagen, Little, Mickelson & Company stated that Auburn was missing out on approximately $920,000 in reimbursements.
Almost $68,500 was not collected from the original grants due to calculation errors, legal interpretation and other issues, Palesh said.
Michael Long, former director of capital projects and grants, took some criticism after the audit was released. Long is now the city administrator in Poughkeepsie.
But there were various reasons why the city had not already secured the grants, according to Palesh. Changes in positions at the state transportation department and communication issues contributed to the miscues, he said.
There has to be constant follow-through with these matters, Palesh continued. Sometimes months will go by while both parties are waiting for replies from one another, he said.
“We're right up to speed,” Palesh said. “I don't think we'll have that problem in the future.”
Project State funds* Federal funds*
Arterial greenway $0 $55,180
Lake Avenue Bridge $250 $38,637.91
South Street $20,516 $206,192.21
Genesee Street $0 $542,001.35
* Amount received since Jan. 1 2008
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