Local sales tax collections for the first two quarters of 2019 grew at a moderate pace compared to the stronger early quarters of 2018, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“Rising sales tax collections are very important for New York’s local governments. But recently, these revenues have been growing more slowly,” DiNapoli said. “These latest results should remind officials to closely watch future collections and plan accordingly.”

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Richard A. Lobur, 55, of Akron, NY, pleaded before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to theft of government money. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A review of six Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (Transit) capital projects found errors throughout the project pipeline that contributed to delays and higher costs, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Many of the problems were tied to MTA’s failure to follow its own procedures or properly oversee contractors.

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

Town of Crown Point – Town Clerk/Tax Collector (Essex County)

The clerk did not remit real property taxes totaling nearly $1.4 million in 2017 and 2018 to the town supervisor or county treasurer each week, as required by law. The clerk also did not always deposit clerk fees within the required timeframe or remit them to the supervisor in a timely manner.

In June, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,481 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at nearly $1.8 billion and approved nearly 1.7 million payments worth more than $10.5 billion. The office rejected 131 contracts and related transactions valued at $980 million and nearly 1,600 payments valued at more than $9.8 million. More information on these contracts and payments is available at www.openbooknewyork.com.

Schools are not doing enough to prepare for emergency situations like shootings, according to an audit of safety planning at 19 schools released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Auditors found none of the schools met the minimum planning or training requirements of the State Education Department (SED), which oversees safety planning for schools. Alarmingly, two schools did not have district-wide safety plans even though plans were mandated nearly 20 years ago.

New York led the nation in nonprofit employment with more than 1.4 million jobs and total wages of just over $78 billion in 2017, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. New York’s nonprofit organizations helped stabilize employment during and after the Great Recession.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and homeless New Yorkers, have been shortchanged by the nonprofit hired to provide outreach services at Penn Station, Grand Central and elsewhere, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York’s mental health facilities are not ensuring parents and guardians are properly notified of incidents of abuse and neglect, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Property tax levy growth for local governments with fiscal years that close on Dec. 31 will be capped at 2 percent for the 2020 fiscal year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This figure affects the tax cap calculations for all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages.

"The allowable levy growth will be 2 percent for the second year in a row, however, mixed economic signals may require local governments to respond to changing financial conditions,” DiNapoli said. “Local officials should remain vigilant when crafting their budgets.”