
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller
The audit report finds that the Department of Finance’s incorrect classification of Queens properties as mixed-use properties resulted in lost revenue for the City. On June 10, 2016, the Office of the City Comptroller Scott Stringer released a report of an audit conducted by the Department of Finance. The audit sought to determine whether the Department of Finance used procedures to ensure that properties classified as mixed-use in Queens had been properly classified.
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NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller
Audit determined the Department of Finance improperly gave abatements to condos and co-ops owned by corporations over a four-year period. On January 28, 2016 the Office of the City Comptroller Scott Stringer released a report of an audit conducted of the Department of Finance. In the final report, the Comptroller’s Office found the Department of Finance wrongly gave out over $10 million worth of property tax abatements to corporate-owned condominums, co-ops, indoor parking spaces, and cabanas between fiscal years 2013 and 2016.
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NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller
Audit shows Housing Department has inadequate controls in place to monitor and keep track of vacant units. On June 24, 2015, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer released an audit report that examined how the New York City Housing Authority manages vacant apartments in developments throughout the city. The report discussed the process by which an apartment becomes vacant in NYCHA’s system and when certain units are taken off of the rent roll. NYCHA classifies apartments as either being on the rent roll (on roll) or off of the rent roll (off roll). On roll units are those that are either occupied by a tenant or in the process of being turned over to a new tenant. Off roll units are those that are not available for residential use for an extended period of time due to major repair or renovation.
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NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller
Audit shows weaknesses in Health Department’s ability to regulate health code inspections at restaurants. On June 30, 2015, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer released an audit report that examined how effectively the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s restaurant inspection program was working to resolve outstanding health code violations. The report examined the process by which DOHMH conducts its restaurant inspection program. The program consists of initial unannounced inspections where public health inspectors note any health code violations. If an establishment receives 14 or more points, a follow-up inspection by DOHMH is required to ensure the violations were resolved. Additionally, supervisors in the inspection program are required to conduct field inspections of restaurants previously inspected by health inspectors under their supervision.
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