New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the appointment of Sylvester (Sly) McClearn as director of the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) Emerging Manager Program. He was appointed Interim Director of the Program in February 2023.

In December, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 2,332 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $75.6 billion and approved nearly 1.8 million payments worth more than $15.6 billion. The office rejected 212 contracts and related transactions valued at $15.4 billion and nearly 1,800 payments valued at nearly $12.6 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.

Local government sales tax collections in New York state totaled $23 billion in calendar year 2023, up 4.2%, or $919 million, from 2022, largely influenced by growth in New York City sales taxes, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Newsday on Monday published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa.

The full op-ed is below:

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese, and the New York State Police today announced the plea and sentence of Amy Becker, former Clerk for the Town of Lincoln, for stealing nearly $4,000 from the Town. The plea was the result of a joint investigation between Comptroller DiNapoli’s Office, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York State Police. As part of the plea agreement she paid full restitution in the amount of $3,869.

Weaknesses in how the state Department of Labor (DOL) investigates labor law violations in New York City have led to significant delays in holding violators accountable and attaining restitution for workers while allowing infractions to continue, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

A report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli examines the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) latest 20-Year Needs Assessment, reviews the depth of work needed to upgrade New York’s regional transit systems and highlights the urgent need for the MTA to state its priorities and funding plans.

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

Sixteen school districts were designated in some level of fiscal stress under New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System for the school year (SY) ending June 30, 2023, up from 14 districts in fiscal stress the prior year, but still well below the 33 designated in stress in 2019. Increased temporary federal aid and growth in state aid have contributed to the declining number of school districts designated in fiscal stress.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Livingston County District Attorney Gregory J. McCaffrey, and the New York State Police today announced the arrest of Patricia Chatley, 59, of Nunda, New York for allegedly stealing over $34,500 of her mother’s public pension payments after she died in January of 2020.