Local Government and School Accountability
Publications: Research Reports
Since 2003, the Division has been using the information OSC collects from local governments to produce research reports on major policy issues facing local governments and state policy-makers. Published under the Issues in Focus series, as brief bulletins on hot topics or as stand-alone reports, these publications help inform the public policy debate with data and analysis.
Local Government Issues in Focus - Meltdown: The Housing Crisis and its Impact on New York State’s Local Governments [Released 11/08]
Much attention has been given to the subprime mortgage market as a catalyst to the housing price collapse. Compared with other states, particularly those in the South and West, significantly fewer subprime loans were issued in New York, although there are areas within the State where subprime mortgages were utilized more frequently - particularly in New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson region. However, the number of home foreclosures in New York is increasing as more homeowners are faced with mortgages of all types that they can no longer afford. [read complete subprime report - pdf]
Research Brief: The Credit Crunch: Implications for Local Government Short-Term Debt [Issued: 11/08]
The current global financial market crisis could have serious implications for New York's local governments if access to the credit markets remains constrained. While many long-term implications for local government finances may occur as a result of the broader deterioration in the economy, the credit situation has produced a more immediate impact on liquidity - the ability of local governments to finance their short-term capital operations and cash flow needs. Local governments who are dependent on short-term debt for these purposes could face continued risks. [read complete Credit Crunch report - pdf]
New York State County Sales Tax Collections by Region [Issued: 07/08]
Sales taxes are an important source of revenue for New York State's local governments. This revenue stream has helped local governments cope with the rising cost of providing services and mitigate property tax increases. The degree to which local governments depend on sales taxes varies, but their overall reliance has increased over the past 10 years. For instance, counties saw an increase in sales tax revenues, as a share of total revenue, from 21.3 percent in 1996 to 26.9 percent in 2006. Sales tax revenues now exceed the real property tax as the largest revenue source for counties. [read complete county sales tax report - pdf]
Local Government Issues in Focus: GASB 45 [Issued: 05/08]
Many governments, including those in New York, have for decades promised medical and other nonpension benefits to employees when they retire. Under new accounting standards issued by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), many state and local governments nationwide are required to report liabilities for these "other post-employment benefits" (OPEB) similarly to the way they report pension liabilities. [read complete GASB 45 report - pdf]
Research Brief: Green Best Practices [Issued: 04/08]
As New York's local governments continue to face mounting pressure to reduce the growth in property taxes and operating costs, many municipalities are investigating opportunities to reduce energy costs by improving energy efficiency. Simultaneously, many municipalities are undertaking efforts to minimize their impact on global climate change by purchasing or providing clean and reliable energy through alternative sources of renewable energy. [read complete Green Best Practices report - pdf]
Performance of Industrial Development Agencies [Issued: 02/08]
The report provides an overview of financial and employment trends of the 116 active Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) in New York State. The analysis of the data, as reported to the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) by each IDA, suggests that additional measures to improve the transparency and accountability of IDA operations are needed. Therefore, OSC will be initiating a series of steps to strengthen oversight and reporting under existing statutory powers, and intends to work with the Governor's Office and the Legislature to expand oversight of all local public authorities and local development corporations (LDCs). [read complete IDA report - pdf]
Research Brief: State's Revenue Sharing Formula [Issued: 02/08]
State-local revenue sharing has taken many forms in New York State. Originally, the program was designed to provide multipurpose local governments (particularly those with municipal responsibilities) with flexible, predictable unrestricted State aid. The revenue sharing formula used factors such as real property value and population, and was linked to the State's Personal Income Tax (PIT) revenues. During the State fiscal crisis of the early 1990s, revenue sharing was cut dramatically. Subsequently, aid increases were targeted primarily to cities.
These funding decisions ignored the changing role of municipalities - regardless of their designation - in our increasingly outdated municipal structures. As previous reports by the Office of the State Comptroller have pointed out, the terms city, town and village have more to do with history than they do with present-day governmental function. This report looks at urban villages as one type of municipal government that has been impacted by these historic designations. [read complete Revenue Sharing report - pdf]