Broome County Audit Uncovered Financial Mismanagement

A state audit revealed that Broome County failed to manage court-ordered funds and abandoned property.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Corruption

Broome County Audit Uncovered Financial Mismanagement

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The New York State Comptroller conducted an audit of Broome County court and trust fund management, identifying significant lapses in oversight. The review uncovered uncollected estate payments and large sums of abandoned property that were never properly remitted to the state.

Why it matters

Proper management of court and trust funds is essential for ensuring that estates are settled correctly and state-held abandoned property is processed legally. Failure to maintain these records risks the mishandling of thousands of dollars in assets intended for beneficiaries or public accounts.

The audit identified $214,000 in unremitted abandoned property and a $4,400 court-ordered estate payment that went uncollected for over a year. Auditors also found a $1,500 payment that was not properly reported to the state.

The players

Jane St. Amour

She served as the director of the Broome County Office of Management and Budget before departing in early 2026.

New York State Comptroller

This constitutional official serves as the chief financial officer for the State of New York and is responsible for auditing local government records.

The details

The audit found that the former director of the Broome County Office of Management and Budget failed to perform timely reconciliations of court-controlled funds. Auditors have recommended that the county implement stronger oversight procedures and establish annual reconciliations to prevent future financial discrepancies.

Jane St. Amour left her position as the director of the Broome County Office of Management and Budget in January 2026.

Legal Context

This case follows a documented trend of municipal financial oversight failures often targeted by New York State Comptroller audits to ensure compliance with the New York State Abandoned Property Law. These audits serve as a critical check against systemic administrative negligence in local government accounting.

The discovery of unmanaged funds may lead to increased state oversight of Broome County fiscal operations to ensure tax dollars and estate assets are handled correctly. Residents should expect the county to move toward more rigorous financial reporting requirements as a result of the state findings.

The takeaway

Local government offices must prioritize the regular reconciliation of trust funds to maintain public trust and meet legal obligations. Implementing these recommended oversight improvements is necessary for Broome County to remain in compliance with state fiscal reporting requirements.