Kelly, Formica Call for Audit of COVID-19 Relief Funds as FBI Investigates West Haven for Alleged Misuse
October 20, 2021“Connecticut must build back the people’s trust.”
HARTFORD — Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) and Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) are calling on Governor Ned Lamont’s budget office to conduct audits of all municipalities to ensure COVID-19 relief funds are being used for their intended purpose.
Their call for action follows allegations of improper and fraudulent use of COVID-19 relief funds in West Haven, now being investigated by the FBI.
“We ask that your office take immediate action to investigate the use of all relief funds across our state,” Sen. Kelly and Sen. Formica wrote to Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw. “The allegations and possible misuse of funds are deeply troubling. These funds are intended to help residents and communities recover during one of the most challenging times of a generation. To learn that officials may have allegedly diverted funding for other purposes shatters public trust. It is wrong and it is infuriating.”
“To restore public confidence, we are calling on the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to conduct audits of all municipalities to ensure all COVID-19 relief funds are being used for their intended purpose,” they wrote.
“Connecticut must build back the people’s trust and guarantee that wrongdoings will never go unnoticed and will not be tolerated in any capacity. As the overseer of these funds, OPM has an immediate responsibility to protect every person who the funds are intended to support.”
