Public Authority Press Releases
September 2007
August 2007
- Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits, August 30, 2007
- Comptroller DiNapoli Calls for MTA to Hold Off on Fare Hikes, Report: MTA Should Work With the State and City to Develop a Comprehensive Plan to Finance Mass Transit, August 27, 2007
- Comptroller DiNapoli Announces New York Local Government Assistance Corporation Bonds Awarded, Series 2007A Tax-Exempt New York Local Government Assistance Corporation Refunding Bonds (Senior Lien): $387,320,000 Awarded, August 21, 2007
July 2007
June 2007
- Governors Island Project Needs to Gain Momentum, Public Forum Should be “Springboard” to Progress, June 19, 2007
- MTA Capital Security Program Falls Further Behind Schedule, Despite Delays, System More Secure Because of MTA Actions, June 12, 2007
May2007
April 2007
March 2007
December 2006
- State Debt Burden Projected to Grow by Nearly One-third in Five Years, $9.4 billion in New Debt Outside Current Debt Limit Shows Current Cap Doesn’t Work, Hevesi Says Growth of Debt Will Impact New Administration’s Agenda, December 20, 2006
- As Pataki Rushes Through Last Minute Deals, Comptroller Tightening Contract Reviews, Some Contracts Already Rejected, Others Put on Hold, December 8, 2006
November 2006
October 2006
- Audit: NYPA Financial Reports Do Not Include Specifics on Niagara Power Project, Niagara River Hydropower Facility Accounted for 137% of NYPA Profits in 2004, 284% of Profits in 2005, October 30, 2006
- MTA Capital Security Projects Fall Further Behind Schedule However, More Projects Now in Construction, October 3, 2006
September 2006
- MTA Lacks Long-term Plan to Close Large Out-year Budget Gaps, September 26, 2006
- Hevesi Releases Letter to Public Authorities Control Board Regarding Moynihan Station Project, September 20, 2006
- Development Authority of the North Country Strengthens Financial Oversight after State Audit Identifies Control Weaknesses, Authority Lacked Policies and Procedures for Procurement, Expense Reimbursement and Vehicle Use, September 19, 2006
- Hevesi, Nadler, Gotbaum and Quinn Urge Industrial Development Agency to Deny Financing for Organization Founded by Lenora Fulani, Officials Urge Support for Stringer Proposal, September 11, 2006
- MTA Strengthens Controls Over Security-Sensitive Documents Following Audit, State Comptroller’s Auditors Identify Weaknesses in Tracking Location of Documents and Who Has Access to Them, September 6, 2006
August 2006
- Hevesi Calls on Ad Hoc Committee to Require Potential Thoroughbred Racing Franchise Holders to Demonstrate Commitment to Ensuring the Integrity of Racing and Wagering in Proposals, August 14, 2006
- State Audit Finds Overly Generous Payments Made to Executives at Monroe County Water Authority, August 14, 2006
July 2006
- Statement from New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi Regarding MTA Finances, July 26, 2006
- Final Action on Budget Increases State Spending by $2.2 Billion; Budget Grows by 10 Percent from Last Year, July 11, 2006
- Comptroller’s Audit Details Misleading Invoices, Double Billings by Yonkers Industrial Development Authority, Audit Calls Actions Inappropriate, but Finds no Criminal Action, July 6, 2006
June 2006
- Audit Points to Safety Issues at LIRR, Metro-North Grade-Level Railroad Crossings, Hundreds of Driver and Pedestrian Safety Violations Observed, Comptroller Cites Need for ‘Care and Caution’ Whenever Crossing Tracks, June 13, 2006
- Long Island Households to Pay $300 More for Electricity This Year, LIPA's Costs Now Higher Than LILCO's, Long Island Residential Electricity Costs Increased More Than 50 Percent Since LIPA Replaced LILCO, June 6, 2006
May 2006
- Statement on Leaked Draft of Yonkers IDA Audit, May 25, 2006
- Legislature Made Bad Executive Budget Worse; Rapid Spending Growth, Debt, & One-Shots Create Huge Gaps, After the Executive's "Constitutional Vetoes" Process Now Worse Than When Budgets Were Late, May 23, 2006
- Hevesi Audit Finds Only a Third of IDA Projects Across State Met Job Creation Goals, Details Lack of Effective Processes to Evaluate Activities and Verify Reported Data, Accompanying Report Outlines Accountability Improvements Including IDA Report Cards, Objective Project Evaluation Criteria and Clawback Provisions, May 16, 2006
- Audit Finds Dozens of Inactive ESDC Subsidiaries, Authority Supporting Economic Development in New York State has Long-Dormant Subsidiaries it is not Even Aware of, Auditors Determine, May 15, 2006
- MTA's Short-Term Financial Condition Improves But Long-Term Fiscal Challenges Remain a Concern, May 10, 2006
- Hevesi Appoints Wade Norwood to Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, May 5, 2006
- Audit Finds “Exceptionally Strong” Internal Financial Controls at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Hevesi Calls Medical Facility a Model for Other New York State Authorities, May 2, 2006
March 2006
- Hevesi Issues Sweeping Regulations to Increase Transparency, Accountability at Public Authorities, March 13, 2006
- Statement on the Proposed Nassau County Tobacco Corporation Financing, March 9, 2006
- Comptroller’s Reforms to State Contracting will Help Ensure Contracts are Awarded Only to Responsible Vendors, VendRep Centralized System to Improve and Streamline Process of Identifying Contractors with Potential Problems, March 8, 2006
- Transit System is More Secure Today, but Capital Security Projects are Behind Schedule, March 2, 2006
February 2006
- MTA Delays Using ABN AMRO on Financing after Comptroller Raises Money Laundering Issue, February 21, 2006
- Hevesi Proposes Legislation Providing Oversight of Contracts Awarded by State Authorities, Bill Addresses Reform Issue Ignored in Public Authorities Accountability Act Signed into Law in January; Comptroller Also Issues Report Showing Weaknesses in Authority Procurement Practices – Billions of Dollars Awarded Without Oversight, February 21, 2006
- Executive Budget Leaves $7.9 Billion Gap for Next Two Years Spending Grows Faster than Revenues; Budget Temporarily Plugs Structural Gaps with Debt, One-Shots & Risky Revenues, February 15, 2006
January 2006
December 2005
- Court Decision Denies Worth Construction Petition to Block Contract Award for I87-I84 Work, Comptroller Stopped Contract with Worth After Determining that Company Wasn't a Responsible Bidder, December 23, 2005
- State Debt Burden High & Growing, New York Ranks Highest or 2nd Highest on Three Measures of Debt, Hevesi Calls for Debt Reform to Limit Growth in Debt, December 20, 2005
- Hevesi Appoints Kruly to Erie County Control Board, December 14, 2005
- Hevesi Urges Tough PSC Review of LIPA Rate Increase, LIPA Has Increased Electric Costs 34.6% Since 2001 With No Oversight; Average L.I. Household Paying $630 More A Year, December 12, 2005
- Hevesi Announces Resignation of Janet Penksa from the Board of the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority, December 6, 2005
- Former Horse Racing Capital Investment Fund Chair Pleads Guilty to Grand Larceny; Comptroller Audit Details Financial Improprieties, Chair, Executive Director Received Thousands of Dollars in Personal Expenses, Other Inappropriate Expenditures, Chair Ran Private Business from Government Office, December 5, 2005
- Hevesi Audit Faults Purchasing Practices of Nassau Health Care Corporation, Did Not Always Follow State Law or Its Own Policies for Purchasing Goods & Services, Has Begun to Implement Reforms, December 1, 2005
November 2005
- Hevesi Issues Sweeping Regulations to Increase Transparency, Accountability at Public Authorities, November 16, 2005
- Worth Construction Found Not a Responsible Vendor, Cannot Receive $46 Million Thruway Contract, Comptroller's Office to Work With Thruway Authority to Quickly Select Alternate Vendor for Construction of I87-I84 Interchange Near Newburgh, November 9, 2005
October 2005
September 2005
- Interest Costs for Debt to Increase to Nearly $6 Billion Annually by 2010, Comptroller Releases Report on State’s Financial Condition, September 30, 2005
- Albany Water Board/Finance Authority: More Public Authorities Out of Control Poor Oversight Led to Cost Overruns, Huge Losses, Cash Flow Problems, September 28, 2005
- Hevesi Delivers Testimony on Procurement Reforms to New York State Assembly, September 27, 2005
- Short-term MTA Financial Outlook Continues to Improve; Defective Railroad Ties Could Cost Up To $125 Million, September 26, 2005
- MTA Projects $130 Million Security Program Increase, State Comptroller Announces Oversight Task in Cooperative Effort with MTA to Maintain Fiscal Discipline, September 22, 2005
- Reform at NYRA Means Racing Franchise Should be Worth Much More to State When it is Put Out to Bid, NYRA Now Leader in Providing Fair Betting to Honest Bettors Thanks to Controls on “Milkshaking” and Doping Horses and Ban on Off-Shore “Rebate Shops”, Comptroller Calls on State Regulatory Authorities and Officials to Ensure Fair Competition for Future of Racing Franchise, September 13, 2005
- Audit Details Severe Mismanagement at Westchester County Health Care Corp., Inaccurate Budget Projections, Bad Management Decisions, Poor Financial Controls, Inadequate Accounting Systems All Contributed to $207 Million Loss Over Four Years, Deficits Persist, But Progress Being Made on Financial Operations Under New Management Team, September 1, 2005
August 2005
July 2005
- Backgrounder on the Dispute over the Thruway Bond Refinancing, July 26, 2005
- Statement by State Comptroller Alan Hevesi Regarding Financing of Transportation Projects, July 22, 2005
- Hevesi Blocks Irresponsible State Borrowing, Stops Secret $1.77 Billion Tax Increase by Rejecting Authority Bond Restructuring, July 21, 2005
- Hevesi Selects Janet Penksa for Erie County Control Board, July 19, 2005
June 2005
- Statement by Comptroller Hevesi on Lobbying Procurement Reform Legislation, June 21, 2005
- Statement by Comptroller Hevesi on Erie County Control Board, June 21, 2005
- Legislation to Abolish Defunct Authority Introduced In Response to Hevesi Audit, Community Facilities Project Guarantee Fund Has No Activities, No Assets, No Liabilities, June 20, 2005
- Audit Finds NYRA Routinely Violated State Law And Its Own Policies In Purchasing Millions In Goods And Services In 2002-2004, Comptroller Cites Association’s Use of No-Bid Contracts, Notes NYRA’S New Leadership Has Begun to Implement Reforms With Help of Federal Monitor, June 15, 2005
- Audit Finds SUNY Research Foundation Spending Circumvents State Rules And Oversight, Analysis of Foundation Connected with State University Questions Weak Contracting Practices, Supplemental Payments to SUNY Employees, June 9, 2005
- Erie Budget Gap is $118.4 Million for 2005, Rises to $279 Million in 2010, Cause of Erie’s Budget Crisis — It Cut Taxes, Then Increased Spending and Used One-Shots to Close the Gaps, Comptroller Calls for Erie County Control Board, June 6, 2005
May 2005
- Comptroller's Report Finds Final Action on State Budget Increased Future Gaps and Debt, Hevesi Praises Reforms, Calls for Fiscal Restraint, May 12, 2005
- MTA Can Manage Its Budget Through 2007 Without Planned Service Cuts, But Faces New Fiscal Challenges Beginning In 2008, May 4, 2005
April 2005
- Comptroller, Business Community and Local Governments Jointly Develop Procurement Reforms, Cutting Red Tape Will Ease Doing Business with State and Local Governments, April 11, 2005
- Audit Finds Thruway Authority Has Not Taken Recommended Steps To Monitor E-ZPASS Contract, April, 6, 2005
March 2005
- Health and Hospitals Corporation Faces Large Budget Gaps, March 15, 2005
- Hevesi Outlines Authority Reform Proposal At Senate Hearing, March 9, 2005
February 2005
- Executive Budget Offers MTA Some Short-Term Help & Long-Term Pain, February 24, 2005
- Comptroller’s Report on the FY 05-06 Executive Budget: State Could Face Gap of as much as $11 Billion, February 23, 2005
- Hevesi, Spitzer, Silver, Brodsky Issue Sweeping Public Authority Reform Proposal, Omnibus Bill with Best Ideas from Comptroller, Attorney General, Governor and Legislature Sets Stage for Unprecedented Accountability, Transparency, February 17, 2005
- Hevesi Audit: Weak Internal Controls, Poor Board Oversight Led To Bridge Authority Abuses By Gaffney, Internal Controls Strengthened Since Former Director’s Departure; Still Some Gaps in Procurement and Contracting Practices, February 16, 2005
- Fund to Support Horse Breeding and Harness Racing Lacks Vital Financial Controls, Part-Time Counsel Receives Full-Time Benefits from Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, February 15, 2005
- Hevesi Proposes Sweeping Debt Reform, Including Constitutional Amendment, New York's Use Of Debt Still Out Of Control - 2000 Reform Act Said No Debt for Operating Costs; Since Then State Issued $7.7 Billion for Operating Costs, Total Debt Keeps Growing, February 1, 2005
January 2005
- ORDA Audit Finds Problems With Board Oversight and Attention to Financial Issues, Internal Controls, Authority Depends on Millions in State and Local Subsidies to Cover Annual Operating Loss, January 27, 2005
- Audit Finds Good Internal Controls, Strong Board Governance At Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, January 19, 2005
- Audit Finds Strong Internal Financial Controls And Monitoring In Place At NFTA, January 19, 2005
- NYRA Paid $1 Million in 2002 through May 2004 for Inappropriate, Unsupported & Excessive Travel & Entertainment, New NYRA Leadership Pledges to Implement Reforms with Help of Federal Monitor, January 11. 2005
December 2004
- Hevesi Statement on MTA Decision to Increase Fares, December 16, 2004
- Audit: Port Authority Path Train Service Restoration From 9-11 Attack Damage a Model of Good Management, No Basis Found for Claims of Cost Overruns, $455 Million Project was Completed Ahead of Schedule, Cost was Justified, December 2, 2004
November 2004
- Hudson River – Black River Regulating District Audit Finds Lax Oversight, Improper Practices by Board, November 22, 2004
- County’s Decision to Load Unneeded Debt on to Newly Independent Erie County Medical Center Means Taxpayers will Pay $214 Million for Hospital They Already Owned, Fiscal Gimmick Eased County Cash Crunch, but Hospital Left with No Plan to Improve its Operations, November 18, 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
- Opportunity Exists To Strengthen Public Authority Boards Of Directors, 40% of Current Positions are Vacant or Held by People with Expired Terms, August 26, 2004
- Comptroller's Audit: Nassau Health Care Corporation Board Failed to Oversee Compensation Decisions, August 9, 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
- Comptroller’s Report on Rochester Central Station Project Shows Improvements Needed in Oversight of State’s Authorities, Transportation Authority Failed to Provide Justification for Planning Decisions, March 29, 2004
- Audit of Lewis County Finds Half Million Dollars in Public Funds Inappropriately Paid to Private Businesses, March 22, 2004
- Public Authorities Bill Submitted for Introduction in Senate and Assembly, March 19, 2004
- Statement From Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi Regarding Selection of Independent Private Sector Inspector General for NYRA, March 2, 2004
February 2004
- Hevesi & Spitzer Call for Major Reform of Public Authorities: Hevesi Proposes Legislation That Improves Accountability, Imposes Procurement & Lobbying Rules, Strengthens Independence & Effectiveness Of Authority Boards, Creates Commission To Evaluate Major Authorities, February 24, 2004
- Executive Budget is Balanced, But Has $1.3 Billion in Risks, February 11, 2004
January 2004
- LIPA'S Actual Spending On Its Own Operations Grew Twice As Fast As Budgeted Spending, Authority Does Not Report Its Spending In A Way That's Easy For Public To Understand, January 27, 2004
- Hevesi & MTA: MTA to Implement New Financial Reporting Regs, January 13, 2004
- Hevesi and Lapp: NYC Transit to Make System More Accessible for Disabled Riders, January 8, 2004
December 2003
- Statement from New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi on NYRA, December 12. 2003
- Statement from New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi on NYRA, December 11, 2003
- MTA Budget Gaps Could Be Larger Than It Projected, Spending Growing Much Faster Than Revenues, December 2, 2003
October 2003
- Long Island Power Authority Paid Acting CFO $582,217 Over 14 Months With No Contract, October 24, 2003
- Hevesi Rescinds Approval Of Canal Corp. Contract With Hutchens Because Agency Provided False & Misleading Information, October 20, 2003
- Hevesi Statement On Port Authority Deal With New York City, October 15, 2003
September 2003
- Dormitory Authority Should Share the Cost for Cost Overruns at Westchester County Courthouse, September 23, 2003
- Hevesi Plan: Inspector General for NYRA, Strengthen the Racing & Wagering Board, Ensure Video Lottery Comes to Aqueduct, September 17, 2003
- Nassau Health Care Corp. Deficit Reduction Plan Doesn’t Add Up, Not Likely To Solve Multi-year Financial Woes; Report Urges Greater Monitoring By NHCC Board, County Comptroller & NIFA, September 16, 2003
August 2003
July 2003
- Statement on the MTA Issuing its 2004 Preliminary Budget, July 30, 2003
- Statement from Comptroller Hevesi Regarding Appellate Court's Decision to Uphold MTA Fare Increase, July 15, 2003
- LIPA Spent $45,000 on Inappropriate Political Polling, Did Not Follow Its Own Contract Procedures In Selecting Polling Firm, July 7, 2003
June 2003
- Hevesi Audit Cites Poor Oversite of Thruway Travel Plazas, June 26, 2003
- Hevesi Report Shows State’s 2003-2004 Budget is Balanced; But State Faces Huge Gaps in Future Years, June 23, 2003
May 2003
- Hevesi's Response to MTA's Announcement of Financial Reporting Changes May 13, 2003
- Testimony by Comptroller Hevesi To New York City Council Transportation Committee Regarding Metropolitan Transportation Authority Finances, May 1, 2003
April 2003
- Response to the April 29, 2003 Statement by the MTA, April 29, 2003
- Hevesi Gives Legislative Committee Copy of Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Secret Document Testifies on Proposed Reforms to the MTA, April 29. 2003
- MTA Hid Half a Billion Dollars in 2002 Budget, Fare Increase Based on Misleading Information, April 23, 2003
February 2003