Western Regional Off-Track Betting was informed on Monday that the office of NYS Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli is conducting a financial audit of the corporation, according to a statement issued to The Batavian on Wednesday.
Jennifer Freeman, communication director for the comptroller's office said that the audit will start in February.
"It will take several months to complete," Freeman said. "During an audit, we do not comment on specifics or what we are finding."
Michael DeGeorge told The Batavian on Wednesday that the OTB was told that the audit could include a review of the past three to five years of financial operations, including internal controls.
"The president and CEO (Byron Brown) made it clear that the new management team will fully cooperate with the comptroller's office throughout the process and that we welcome outside review," DeGeorge said.
There has been recent controversy regarding executive buyouts, other perks, and executive-level expenditures as a result of the transition from the leadership of Henry Wojtaszek to Brown.
Previously:
- Erie County's WROTB board member walks the line on agency's spending
- OTB approves consultants’ plan for executive reorganization, approves jobs for two former Brown staffers
- OTB chair vows to keep politics out of new CEO search, defends legality of severance pay for executives
- OTB board votes to buy out contracts of top three executives
- Wojtaszek confirms he's leaving OTB by mutual agreement
- WROTB board seeks accountability when it comes to sporting, entertainment events in Buffalo, Rochester
- For additional coverage of OTB, click here.
