NORWICH, N.Y. —The New York State Comptroller’s office recently conducted a review of the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency’s (CCIDA) progress so far in implementing recommendations the comptroller’s office made following an audit released in April 2022.

The review found that the CCIDA demonstrated minimal progress implementing the suggested corrective actions, only fully implementing one out of the 10 audit recommendations. Another corrective action was partially implemented while eight others were not implemented.

“During our review, we discussed the basis for our recommendations and the operational considerations relating to these issues with CCIDA officials,” Deputy Comptroller Robin L. Lois wrote in a December letter to CCIDA President/CEO Salvatore Testani. “We encourage CCIDA officials to continue their efforts to fully implement our recommended improvements.”

The CCIDA adopted the recommendation for uniform evaluation criteria and uniform tax-exemption policy regarding projects where financial assistance is available, according to the comptroller’s office.

The organization also partially adopted a recommendation that its board members continue to attend training to become familiar with oversight responsibilities and remain current on statutory requirements and the regulatory environment. The comptroller’s office found that three of the seven CCIDA board members attended training on oversight responsibilities and statutory requirements. Two members registered for training that was subsequently canceled by the organizers. The remaining two board members did not respond to inquiries about any training they attended.

The CCIDA did not adopt eight recommendations, including that the board ensure Commerce Chenango, Inc. prepares cost-benefit analysis when evaluating project applications, ensure capital investment information is cumulatively tracked and compared to project goals, verify and monitor energy-generating capacity and community-distributed generation to project goals as stated in project applications, require businesses to submit quarterly payroll-tax forms with annual questionnaires to verify reported employment information, require businesses to submit annual sales and use tax exemption forms with their annual questionnaire to ensure sales-tax exemptions are not exceeded, establish procedures for documenting that approved mortgage-tax exemptions have been used and properly reported, implement procedures to track payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) amounts billed and received, and ensure the contract for administrative services includes an understanding of all services to be provided to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

A response from CCIDA was not included in the comptroller’s report.