Certain Activities of the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, New York

GAO reviewed activities of the Economic Opportunity Commission and the Community Economic Development Corporation in Nassau County, New York. It was alleged that Emergency Energy Assistance Program (EEAP) funds were used for other purposes or were unaccounted for. The Commission commingled the funds with other Community Services Administration funds in the same bank account and made advances from the account to cover expenses of other programs. Other allegations of misuse of EEAP funds concerned: (1) participating vendors not being paid, (2) funds being funneled to a Corporation-owned supermarket, (3) duplicate payments being made to participants, and (4) participants using program benefits to purchase unauthorized items.