Photo: boonchai wedmakawand / Moment / Getty Images
Dutchess County Comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair has released an audit report on the "Learn, Play, Create" program, which was funded by American Rescue Plan funds. The program, initiated in 2021, aimed to support local youth-serving non-profit organizations with $3 million in funding. The audit found that the funds were disbursed in advance of services, which is not considered a best practice for government entities.
According to the Mid-Hudson News, amounts up to $50,000 were awarded to libraries and up to $20,000 to arts and athletic organizations. Due to the program's popularity, an additional $1.2 million in non-COVID-19 funding was allocated to expand the initiative. The audit identified inconsistencies in application guidance, which was revised five times during the 2021-2022 period. Furthermore, 100 percent of the sampled projects had contracts executed after the contract term began.
The Comptroller's Office recommended resolving discrepancies with contract execution and ensuring that all related documentation has clear language to avoid misinterpretation. Aymar-Blair stated, "While the county is unlikely to engage in advance one-time grant payments again, this report identifies issues that illustrate why government should pay for goods and services after they are delivered."