Governor Cuomo today set forth a strong agenda for New York State in 2014. His leadership and vision have pushed New York in a positive direction.

Over the past few years, the state’s financial position has grown stronger with spending more closely aligned with revenue. However, more work remains to achieve structure balance. In this current fiscal year, my office identified almost $5 billion in temporary resources to support state spending. It is also time to tackle comprehensive reforms to the state’s budget process, debt and capital planning.

I send my congratulations to Melissa Mark-Viverito on her selection as Speaker of the New York City Council. Melissa will be a forceful advocate for all New York City residents. I look forward to working with Mayor Bill de Blasio, Speaker Mark-Viverito and all of the newly inaugurated city council members in the coming years.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office reviewed 1,711 contracts valued at $6 billion and approved more than 1.7 million payments worth more than $8.7 billion in the month of November. His office also rejected 175 contract transactions valued at $740 million and 791 payments valued at $1.3 million.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced a tentative schedule for the planned sale of obligations for the state, New York City and their major public authorities during the first quarter of 2014.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund reached an all-time high of $160.7 billion in 2013, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli noted today in a release summarizing his office’s major accomplishments in 2013. Other notable highlights include several convictions from the fight against public corruption, statewide efforts to deal with local fiscal stress, returning $412 million in lost money to New Yorkers through the Unclaimed Funds program, and his continued push for campaign finance reform.

Officials in the city of Amsterdam are unable to properly assess and monitor the city’s financial condition due to inadequate, inaccurate and incomplete accounting records, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Auditors found Amsterdam’s unreserved fund balance fell from $3.4 million in 2007 to $620,000 in 2011, a decrease of 81 percent. The city’s short-term borrowing to cover expenses also increased by more than 250 percent in the last three years.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today released a report showing that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) short-term financial outlook has been buoyed by the economy, but that significant challenges remain, in particular closing the unprecedented funding gap in its proposed five-year capital program. 

"Edward Regan was a giant among men of public finance. He was a quiet, deliberate man who vehemently fought for the taxpayer and passionately argued against poor fiscal choices. He soundly managed the state's public pension fund and wisely argued against New York's heavy debt load. He achieved a great many things in his career and served the people of New York with great integrity and great skill. He held a deep respect for the Office of the State Comptroller. I valued his friendship and the good counsel that he provided to me.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that a majority of voting shareholders supported the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s request that H&R Block disclose its spending on political activities. The Fund owns shares of H&R Block with an approximate value of $24 million. 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P.