Town of Andes – Conflict of Interest and Cash Receipts and Disbursements (Delaware County)

Despite spending about $36 million to reduce the subway homeless population, the homeless situation in the subways has grown significantly worse, in part because the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has neglected to monitor a non-profit that has repeatedly failed to conduct outreach it was hired for, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Former Town of Perry Ambulance Service Business Manager Darcy J. Conaway pled guilty to petit larceny for stealing more than $5,000 from ambulance funds, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Wyoming County District Attorney Donald G. O’Geen. Conaway was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge after paying the restitution amount requested by the new board overseeing the ambulance operations.

Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 1.81 percent for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, down from a 2 percent cap in each of the two previous years, according to data released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“As the levy growth rate dips below 2 percent, school district and municipal officials need to be fiscally cautious and examine where they can limit spending to stay under the cap,” DiNapoli said. “Local governments will have to examine their budgets more closely to control expenses.”

New York paid $26.6 billion more in taxes to the federal government in federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018 than it got back in federal spending, ranking it last among the states, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government audits have been issued.

Village of Cobleskill – Misappropriated Funds and Board Oversight (Schoharie County)
The board failed to implement proper internal controls and the former clerk-treasurer did not adequately perform her duties. As a result, the former clerk-treasurer received inappropriate payments totaling $8,828.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that Andrew Siwo has joined the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) as its first-ever director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions to support the implementation of the Fund’s Climate Action Plan.

“Governor Cuomo put forth dozens of proposals to tackle big and small issues. His ambitious proposals hit on some important issues that we can address here in New York, in contrast to the gridlock we are witnessing in Washington.

“The focus now turns to how the state will pay for these proposals and the Executive budget will be released soon. There are tough decisions to be made to balance the budget while addressing the growing costs and cracks in the Medicaid program. We mustn’t push these challenges off to future years. We need long-term solutions.”

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced a tentative schedule for the planned bond sales for the state, New York City and their major public authorities during the first quarter of 2020.

The planned sales of $5.39 billion include $4.21 billion of new money and $1.18 billion of refundings and reofferings as follows:

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers this holiday season to read the fine print on gift cards for details about fees and expiration dates. While some gift cards sellers have eliminated inactivity fees, consumers should still ask whether fees apply. DiNapoli also reminds recipients to spend their new gift cards in a timely manner, otherwise the money could eventually get turned over to the Office of Unclaimed Funds.