D.A. Soares responds to report of fiscal mismanagement

District Attorney David Soares is responding to the County Comptroller's report that his office has shown "a total disregard for fiscal management."

In an audit obtained by CBS Six Comptroller Michael Conners found that Soares' director of administration, Richard Arthur, wasn't handling money carefully enough.  Citing glaring errors in basic Bookkeeping, Accounting and Petty Cash Management.

D.A. Soares released a statement early Thursday afternoon accepting responsibility for the "inner workings of the Office," but said he wanted to "assure the citizens of this county that departmental funds are being used appropriately to carry out the mission of the office."

"Although I respect the Comptroller, there are also some conclusions with which I emphatically disagree, particularly thsoe which might lead to the conclusion that funds have been misused or misappropriated in any manner," Soares said.

Soares continued that he was planning to assemble a panel of financial experts to review the fiscal dealings in his office and promised to report the panel's findings when they were done.

FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

Statement from District Attorney Soares

 "First and foremost, I take full responsibility for the inner workings of the Office of the Albany County District Attorney and want to assure the citizens of this county that departmental funds are being used appropriately to carry out the mission of the office.

"I have reviewed the audit of the petty cash account done by the County Comptroller and agree with some of his findings as they relate to process and accounting issues. Although I respect the Comptroller, there are also some conclusions with which I emphatically disagree, particularly those which might lead to the conclusion that funds have been misused or misappropriated in any manor.

"It is my responsibility to ensure the public safety of Albany County, but it is also my responsibility to ensure the integrity of the fiscal controls within this office. I am in the process of convening a panel of financial experts to review the fiscal dealing of the Office of the Albany County District Attorney and will report those findings to the people of Albany County when they become available to me.

"I promise the citizens of Albany County that I will take the necessary steps to guarantee that departmental funds will continue to be used responsibly and appropriately by my office."