An audit from the New York State Comptroller’s Office has found that Auburn’s Industrial Development Authority (AIDA) did not properly approve and monitor projects.
Lasting from January 2023 to February 2025, the audit determined that the authority “did not require project owners to submit supporting documentation for capital investment and job data with applications and ensure project owners submitted the required annual reporting form and supporting documentation.” This documentation is required to monitor project goals, including job retention and creation. AIDA officials also did not conduct policy-required site visits in 2023 and 2024.
The office claims this means AIDA did not “adequately monitor job creation and retention and did not determine the reasons for all of the variances between 2023 year-end jobs and project goals or document their assessments.”
The board and AIDA officials are also accused of not properly monitoring Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOTs) agreements, totalling $1.27 million and $1 million in 2024, resulting in late distributions to taxing jurisdictions in 2023.
The audit went on to claim that the board cannot help ensure AIDA is able to advance job opportunities and economic welfare because of its lack of appropriate required reporting.
The comptroller’s office then requested that the AIDA board create a written corrective action plan and send it to them.
The full report can be viewed below.
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