Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to examine the City’s purchasing process for the period January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014.

Background

The City of Cohoes is located in Albany County and has approximately 16,200 residents. The City is governed by the City Council which comprises an elected Mayor and six elected councilpersons. Budgeted appropriations for fiscal year 2014 total approximately $18.2 million.

Key Findings

• The City’s procurement policy was adopted in 2000 and has not been updated to keep it current.
• Numerous purchases were not competitively bid or purchased from State contracts as per General Municipal Law, and others did not receive competitive quotations as per the City’s procurement policy.

Key Recommendations

• Update the procurement policy annually and include guidance about the use of State and County contracts.
• Ensure that City officials and employees comply with the City’s procurement policies and General Municipal Law when procuring goods and services.