The State's Audit Of The Steuben County Legislature

State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli has released an audit about the Steuben County Legislature.  In the report, it stated that Steuben County officials did not effectively manage the County’s fund balance.  They say that as a result, as of December 31, 2024, the County maintained unrestricted fund balance in the general fund totaling $103.4 million (48 percent of the upcoming year’s budget) and in the road fund totaling $15.5 million (53 percent of the upcoming year’s budget). Dinapoli also says that the Legislature did not have an adequate fund balance policy or develop and adopt comprehensive, written multiyear financial or capital plans.

The county responded to the audit, saying that while the county appreciates these recommendations and has implemented them, steuben county respectfully disagrees with the audit’s sole finding that county officials did not effectively manage fund balance.  Steuben County also says, the state’s audit did not take the pandemic into consideration.  County officials maintain that Covid was a major stress factor on county operations.

 

Painted Post Troopers Arrest A California Man

FROM NYSP:   The New York State Police in Painted Post arrested Jacob A. Hanes, age 24, of Palm Springs, California, following a child exploitation investigation.

Hanes was charged with 
* Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child (D felony)
* Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd degree (D felony) 
* Endangering the Welfare of a Child (A misdemeanor)

The investigation determined that Hanes had communicated electronically with a juvenile and requested sexually explicit images and videos while knowing the victim was under the age of 17. Investigators further determined that Hanes was in possession of a forged New York State identification card at the time of his arrest.

Hanes was located and taken into custody in Buffalo, New York, while visiting the area. He is scheduled to be transported to the Steuben County Jail for centralized arraignment.

 

Tom Golisano Keeps Helping Children And Hospitals 

The Buffalo News reports that Buffalo Billionaire Tom Golisano is donating $100 million dollars to childrens hospitals in Arkansas and Georgia.  Also, today up in Buffalo, they’ll be renaming the a hospital there, The Tom Golisano’s Childrens Hospital.  Click here for full story.