An audit released on Monday by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says that Monroe County failed to properly manage or enforce the contract the county had with the operator of the county golf courses.
DiNapoli says that the contract with Tindale Inc., for operation of the three golf courses, at Durand Eastman, Genesee Valley and Churchville, allowed the vendor to keep nearly $250,000 that should have been spent on improving the courses.
Monroe County officials dispute that characterization, saying that the Comptroller's comments reflect a disagreement over accounting standards that dictate what qualifies as a capital expense.
State auditors claim that county officials failed to properly manage or enforce the contract despite ongoing complaints about the condition of the courses.
Earlier the year, county officials announced that Tindale’s contract is ending three years ahead of schedule, and the county park’s department is taking over maintenance of the courses next year and is looking for a new vendor to manage other services.
In a response from county officials attached to the audit, they take issue with some of the findings, saying that the contract with Tindale was always managed in the best interest of local taxpayers. County officials say they have taken corrective action by terminating the current contract.