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

Overtime pay in 2018 at state agencies was at the highest level within the past decade, rising to $787 million, according to a report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overtime hours also rose, with 18.1 million hours worked.

“New York state’s overtime pay has seen significant growth in the past decade,” DiNapoli said. “As the state confronts increasingly high costs for overtime, New York needs to find ways to better manage costs while providing taxpayers with critical services.”

Former Pekin Fire Company President Lawrence Amacher Jr. was arrested today for allegedly stealing $1,800 from the company’s bell jar collection for his personal use, and falsifying records to hide his theft, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Amacher, 49, of Sanborn, in Niagara County, allegedly withdrew $1,800 from the company’s bell jar account and falsely submitted the required New York State Gaming Commission reports in 2014 and 2015, which misrepresented his use of the funds.

New York City employment reached 4.55 million jobs in 2018, the highest level ever recorded, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“New York City is experiencing its largest and longest job expansion since the end of World War II and the city has been the driving force behind the state’s employment gains,” DiNapoli said. “While job growth remains strong, there are national and global risks that could affect the pace of future growth.”

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today released the report from the Decarbonization Advisory Panel. The report examines the financial impacts of climate change on the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) and recommends ways for the Fund to build on its climate change work to protect and add value for the public workers that rely on it for retirement.

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

Pharsalia Town Supervisor Dennis O. Brown faces criminal charges for allegedly stealing more than $123,000 in town funds. He allegedly used the funds to pay credit card bills and pad his salary an additional $20,000 a year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The State Education Department (SED) needs to improve its efforts to ensure school districts are following state requirements for school safety planning, including whether those plans are shared with local first responders, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York’s health departments are not consistently enforcing the state health code for eateries and other establishments nor explaining why violators are not being punished, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick announced the arrest today of Geddes Account Clerk Shannon Carhart for allegedly pocketing $30,000 in a health care coverage scam.