MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting an audit by the Ulster County Comptroller's Office has shown that two grants awarded to the county's public defender office, totaling up to $900,000, have been underutilized. The audit also found that stronger oversight and monitoring could have maximized indigent legal representation and assisted with caseload reductions for the office. “In the spirit of cooperation, we helped the public defender complete paperwork owed to the state after we recognized the struggle the office was having,” Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said. The audit looked at the policies, procedures, and terms governing the grants; eligibility of any incurred expenses and payments; adherence to reporting requirements; and general implementation of initiatives. The comptroller’s office suggested strengthening administration and inter-departmental collaboration for future grants. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.