It’s been a bad few months for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature economic development programs.

Federal investigators are looking into potential conflicts of interest in the Buffalo Billion, the Democratic governor’s plan to revive Buffalo’s economy. Another Cuomo program, Start-Up NY, has created only 408 jobs so far according to a state report quietly released by the administration this month.

And on Thursday, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an audit that found officials couldn’t verify that companies given tax credits for creating jobs were living up to their obligations.

State economic development officials point to lower unemployment as evidence Cuomo’s efforts are working. But the struggles facing the governor’s high-profile programs are giving fresh material to critics who say Cuomo needs to rethink some of his proudest accomplishments.

(AP)