Reports

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State of New York for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

This paper is intended to help stimulate a vigorous debate on smart growth in New York State by providing a general background and helping to define major issues. New York has a unique urban and natural heritage, and a rich diversity of communities, many of which need to be brought back to a healthy condition. These resources need to be conserved and developed wisely, in an economically sustainable and environmentally sound manner.

This report seeks to accomplish four important tasks: Reviews pertinent policy issues, assesses current activity levels in New York State, offers strategies for collaboration, proposes fiscally responsible measures, and offers several policy recommendations intended to further enable local government collaboration.

This past year, New York faced extraordinary fiscal challenges as a result of the economic downturn, the failure to exercise budgetary restraint during more prosperous times, and the failure to act quickly when the State’s finances began to show signs of difficulty, as well as the collapse of the stock market through 2002 and the devastation, both in human and financial terms, of 9-11.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State of New York for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.