New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to keep track of gift cards received during the holidays. When gift cards aren’t used for five years, their balances may be turned over by retailers to the Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF). In 2024, the office recovered over $21 million from gift cards, more than three times the amount received in 2014 ($5.8 million). New Yorkers are encouraged to spend holiday gift cards early this new year and remember to check for unclaimed funds.

In November, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,798 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $4.3 billion and approved nearly 1.9 million payments worth nearly $12.3 billion. The office rejected 234 contracts and related transactions valued at $818.1 million and nearly 1,000 payments valued at nearly $11.6 million, primarily for mistakes, insufficient support for charges, and improper payments. More information on these contracts and payments is available at Open Book New York. 

Three Metropolitan Transportation Authority agencies – Bridges & Tunnels (B&T), NYC Transit Department of Buses (Transit Bus), and MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus) need to improve their preparations for extreme weather as an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found a lack of maintenance and inspections of resiliency equipment, and a failure to follow weather alert procedures.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government and school audits were issued.

A 38-year-old Queens woman today was sentenced to five years' probation and paid full restitution after being convicted of stealing nearly $85,000 in New York state pension payments meant for her deceased father, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced. The defendant, Deanna Hansen, pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny in June.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has not done enough to consolidate its procurements across its agencies to save money as was expected under its Transformation Plan, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office released a report and series of audits today reviewing compliance by villages with financial reporting and other requirements.

New York City’s finances have stabilized amid declining costs for asylum seekers and strong revenue, largely from growth in business and property tax collections. But potential policy changes on the federal level creates uncertainty for the coming years which require fiscal preparation, according to a report on the city’s November financial plan modification released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released a report that showed nonprofit organizations in 2022 provided 1.3 million jobs to New Yorkers, just over 1 in 6 private sector jobs in the state. While the number of nonprofits increased nationally between 2017-2022, they declined in New York and the number of jobs also fell by 4.1%.

Local sales tax collections in New York state increased by 3% in November compared to the same month in 2023, according to data released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.86 billion for the month, up $53 million year over year, with New York City accounting for 61.5% of the increase.