Kingston, NY (November 23, 2022) – The Ulster County Comptroller has released a program audit of the Ulster County Service Center. The Center, formerly known as the Constituent Services Navigator, was introduced in the 2022 Ulster County budget utilizing $310,325 funds from the American Rescue Plan to fund the new division’s expenses. The program grew out of a call center originally established during the pandemic to answer the influx of calls from constituents regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 proposed executive budget includes $341,327 of taxpayer funds to cover the cost of the Center’s operations for the upcoming year.
The Ulster County Comptroller is charged with evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of County programs under the Ulster County Charter § C-57. The audit sought to evaluate if the Service Center is meeting the programmatic goals that were presented at its onset, and to determine if the Center is a good use of taxpayer resources.
“While our county residents are facing difficult times, it is more important than ever to consider how effectively we are using available funding to address public needs,” said County Comptroller March Gallagher. “As we struggle to address large issues like affordable housing, the opioid epidemic, and needs for substantial investment in emergency services operations, we must carefully review every investment and the impact it has on residents. Our audit reveals that the Service Center is not operating in an efficient and effective way. The Legislature and incoming County Executive may find that the staff and resources dedicated to the Service Center might be better used elsewhere.”
