Ulster County to recoup $1,584,022 in unclaimed funds from the Public Defender's Office dating back from 2014 through 2019

These funds were available to the County to provide equitable coverage for defendants in the justice system who cannot provide for their own defense 

KINGSTON, N.Y. - County Executive Pat Ryan announced that the Public Defender’s Office has submitted the final contract that will close out this administration's effort to recoup funds that went unclaimed from 2014 through 2019. This final contract, which will be before the Ulster County Legislature at their February meeting, will capture an additional $16,382, for a total of $1,584,022. 

The recouped claims covered expenses such as rent, supplies, staff salaries, and technological investments that occurred during 2014 to 2019. These funds were available to the County to provide equitable coverage for defendants in the justice system who cannot provide for their own defense. 

“As County Executive, I have pledged to provide a more responsive and responsible government and to ensure justice for all our County residents,” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “Through the recouping of these funds, we are not only protecting our taxpayers but we are continuing to provide much needed services to some of our most vulnerable residents. I look forward to continuing to work with our Public Defender's office to ensure that we can provide justice for all of our residents.”

In February of 2019, it was announced that subsequent to a multi-year financial analysis of the Public Defender’s Office it was discovered that nearly $2.5 million over six straight years in expected and budgeted operational revenue from the State had never been received. The discovery came while implementing County Executive Ryan’s first budget. The $1.6 million in recouped funds represents taxpayer dollars that were expended during this period, the additional $900,000 were budgeted but unexpended funds. 

County Executive Ryan is committed to continuing to ensure that safeguards are in place to protect taxpayer dollars. Last year he asked Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher to conduct a comprehensive review of the past six years of the Public Defender’s finances, the report and findings are forthcoming. 

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