Reports

See Audits to search for audits related to State agencies, NYC agencies, local governments, school districts and public authorities.

Health & Welfare

October 2012 —

Obesity rates in New York State and the nation have jumped sharply in recent decades. Childhood obesity, in particular, has become much more common – nearly tripling nationwide since 1980.

Wall Street

October 2012 —

Five years after the beginning of the financial crisis, the securities industry remains in transition. The industry is still working through the fallout from the financial crisis and many business patterns and practices are changing as a result of regulatory, technological and economic factors.

Budget & Finances, Infrastructure, Transportation

October 2012 —

On July 25, 2012, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released a revised four-year financial plan (“the July Plan”). A review finds that the MTA’s finances have improved appreciably over the past two years.

Public Authorities

October 2012 —

Growth in the number, cost and influence of public authorities has necessitated increased disclosure and oversight of their activities, which historically have been less transparent than those of State agencies.

Budget & Finances, Pension & Retirement

September 2012 —

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the New York State and Local Retirement System (the System or NYSLRS) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.

Budget & Finances

September 2012 —

In the past few years, New York State has made important progress toward achieving long-term budget balance. The State has enacted significant changes in its three largest expenditure categories — Medicaid, school aid and agency operations — and created a new cap on local property taxes, ushering in a new era of State and local fiscal policy.

Budget & Finances, Economy

September 2012 —

This report seeks to inform that debate by examining the economic and fiscal histories of these other cities between 1980 and 2010, a period characterized by divergent trends for different groups of cities in the Empire State.

Budget & Finances

September 2012 —

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State of New York for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.

Budget & Finances

August 2012 —

This report describes the fiscal oversight OSC provides to local governments faced with the serious fiscal challenges of budgeting with fewer resources to fund rising expenditures, all while staying within the recently enacted property tax cap.

Economy

August 2012 —

Since the 1970s, farmers’ markets have multiplied and become more popular in New York City and throughout New York State as the locally grown food movement has gained momentum.

Public Authorities

August 2012 —

In late May 2012, the New York State Thruway Authority announced that it was beginning the process of imposing a 45 percent average toll increase for larger commercial vehicles. This increase, intended to take effect on September 30, 2012, comes after the Thruway Authority has increased tolls for all classes of vehicles in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Economy, Neighborhood Profile

July 2012 —

The greater downtown Brooklyn area is home to world-class arts and cultural organizations, such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).

Economy, Neighborhood Profile

July 2012 —

The greater downtown Brooklyn area is the civic center of Brooklyn and includes the largest business district in New York City outside of Manhattan.

Budget & Finances

July 2012 —

One year ago, New York City projected a budget gap of $4.6 billion for FY 2013 and out-year gaps that reached $4.9 billion. Since then, the City has successfully closed the FY 2013 budget gap and narrowed the FY 2014 budget gap to $2.5 billion without raising taxes or cutting basic services. Most of the improvement, however, has not come from higher revenue forecasts, but from drawing down reserves and other nonrecurring resources.

Education

June 2012 —

On July 1, 2012, the interest rate on subsidized Direct Federal Loans for college students (also known as Stafford Loans) is set to revert to 6.8 percent for new loans, unless the U.S. Congress acts to prevent the increase.

Budget & Finances, Education

June 2012 —

School districts can use EBALR moneys to make cash payments to employees for accrued leave time due to them when they leave school district employment. OSC certified the excess EBALR funds that school districts had reserved, but could not legally use, so district officials could put these moneys to productive use to pay for operating costs. 

Budget & Finances

June 2012 —

Nearly one year ago, New York City adopted a balanced budget for FY 2012, but projected a budget gap of $4.6 billion for FY 2013, and even larger gaps for subsequent years. On May 3, 2012, the Mayor issued his executive budget for FY 2013 and an associated four-year financial plan (the “May Plan”). The City now projects a modest surplus for FY 2012, a balanced budget for FY 2013, and out-year budget gaps that average $3.3 billion.

Budget & Finances

June 2012 —

New York is embarked on a new era of State and local fiscal policy. The State is working to resolve longstanding budgetary problems through ambitious policy changes, the full impacts of which will become clear only over time.

Procurement

May 2012 —

In 2011-12, vendors were paid interest totaling $1,925,986, representing an increase of $526,531, or more than 37 percent, above the prior year. 

Economy

May 2012 —

New York added more jobs in the past two years than previously reported, according to revised data from the New York State Department of Labor.