Reports

In the sixth year of national economic recovery, New York State’s short-term financial condition continues to improve.

Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to more than 6 million New Yorkers and is projected to cost a total of $62 billion from federal, State and local sources in State Fiscal Year 2016.

The State has approximately 639 local authorities operating outside of New York City. These authorities generally operate without many of the constraints and controls over day-to-day operations required of municipal governments. OSC audits have helped to shine a light on questionable practices from board member compensation to the selection and results of economic development projects. OSC continues to advocate for express audit authority over LDCs and other not-for-profit local authorities, better reporting requirements for all local authorities and legislation to achieve more transparent results. 

This report by the Office of the State Comptroller on overtime use by New York State agencies examines overtime patterns over the past eight calendar years. The total cost of overtime in calendar year 2014 was more than $661 million for over 15.9 million overtime hours worked.

The sales tax generates 8 percent of all local government revenues in New York State and 27 percent of county revenues. This report examines the general sales and use tax imposed for local governments in the State. It covers the sales tax rates in counties and cities, and trends in sales tax revenues for local governments. It also includes an up-to-date county-level summary of sales tax sharing arrangements and discusses recent activity in the taxation of Internet sales.

New York’s Medicaid program is undergoing major changes, with ambitious plans for further modifications just ahead. The State’s efforts to slow spending growth are showing measurable progress, with average beneficiary costs declining while enrollment continues to grow.

The average bonus paid in New York City's security industry rose by 2 percent to $172,860 in 2014.

The Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2015-16 was released by the Executive on January 21, 2015. On February 20, the Executive submitted 30-day amendments to the proposed Budget.

On February 9, 2015, the City of New York submitted to the New York State Financial Control Board a revised financial plan (the “February Plan”) covering fiscal years 2015 through 2019. The February Plan incorporates the Mayor’s preliminary budget for FY 2016 and developments during the first half of the current fiscal year.

Farms are an essential and diverse part of New York State’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, incomes and tax revenues across the Empire State.

As the national economy gains momentum in its sixth year of inconsistent recovery from the Great Recession, New York State's fiscal condition also continues to improve.

The number of school districts overriding the tax cap has declined each year. In general, school districts’ decisions to override the tax cap were based, at least in part, on necessity. When examining the relationship between fiscal stress and tax cap overrides, we found that fiscally stressed school districts were nearly three times more likely to override the tax cap when compared to school districts that were not designated as stressed.

2013-2015 Tax Cap Data - Excel

Local sales tax growth was slower in 2014 than in any year since the 2008-2009 recession, in part due to slow growth in the first quarter of the year. Long Island collections declined, some upstate counties had strong growth due to increased sales tax rates, and New York City's growth was relatively strong.

County-by-county data - pdf

Total local sales tax collections in New York State grew by $439 million, or 3.0 percent, from 2013 to 2014.1 This was less than the 2012 to 2013 growth of 5.2 percent, and the slowest annual growth since the end of the 2008-09 recession.

New York’s State and local public authorities collectively spend nearly $60 billion annually. Their total debt outstanding, more than a quarter of a trillion dollars, equates to $13,013 for every New York resident.

The districts experiencing fiscal stress are spread across the State. One indicator in particular—the operating deficit—saw substantial changes in the FSMS points assigned compared to the previous year: 19 percent received a higher FSMS score on this indicator, while 28 percent scored lower. Changes in scores for this indicator contributed to changes in districts’ overall levels of fiscal stress.

As of December 2014, OSC has completed 40 audits of expenses submitted to SED by preschool and/or school age special education providers over the last decade. These audits have cumulatively identified almost $42 million in disallowances, or 7.6 percent of the total claimed expenses of $544 million for the audit period. 

New York’s State and local public authorities collectively spend nearly $60 billion annually. Their total debt outstanding, more than a quarter of a trillion dollars, equates to $13,013 for every New York resident.

On November 25, 2014, the City of New York submitted to the New York State Financial Control Board a revised four-year financial plan (the “November Plan”) covering fiscal years 2015 through 2018. The November Plan incorporates developments during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, including higher-than-expected tax collections and agency spending. The November Plan shows substantially smaller out-year gaps than projected by the City in June 2014, mostly because of savings from better-than expected pension fund investment earnings in FY 2014 and additional debt refinancings.

Access to a habitable and secure place to live is a basic human need, essential to good health and well‐being. Keeping New Yorkers housed is costly, however. Government spends billions of dollars annually to assist developers, owners, and renters.