State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler today announced that former Town of Bethel Tax Collector Debra Gabriel, of Bethel, pleaded guilty before Judge Peter Feinberg in the Town of Rockland Justice Court to Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, in connection with a scheme to defraud the New York State and Local Retirement System. Gabriel, 62, had resigned her public office and retired in August 2020.

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

In September, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,515 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $2.4 billion and approved nearly 5.4 million payments worth almost $15.4 billion. The office rejected 153 contracts and related transactions valued at $215.5 million and more than 111,100 payments valued at nearly $65 million, primarily for mistakes, insufficient support for charges, and improper payments. More information on these contracts and payments is available at www.openbooknewyork.com.

Local sales tax collections totaled $5.2 billion in the third quarter (July-September of 2021), up $861 million (20%) from the same period last year and continuing the trend of exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to a report released today from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Wall Street’s run of prosperity extended into the first half of 2021 with $31 billion in pre-tax earnings, beating 2020’s outsized first half profits of $27.6 billion, even as job losses accelerated in New York City’s securities industry, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s annual report on Wall St.’s performance.

Empire State Development (ESD), the public authority responsible for administering many of New York state’s economic development programs, has failed to fully evaluate most of its programs to determine if they are boosting the state’s economy and promoting promised job and business growth, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

State tax receipts in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22 exceeded the Enacted Budget Financial Plan forecast (May estimates) by $7.2 billion through the end of September, according to the monthly State Cash Report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Tax collections were $1.8 billion greater than forecast by the Division of the Budget (DOB) in the First Quarter Update to the Financial Plan, released last month. Tax receipts through September 30th are $13.4 billion greater than they were through the same month in SFY 2020-21.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out years of growth in New York City’s office sector, erasing nearly $28.6 billion in market value and more than $850 million in property taxes in City Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. Timing its recovery is an open question, however, as employers continue to offer work-from-home options, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today the launch of his new online tool to monitor spending of federal recovery aid and COVID-19 relief programs in the state, including funds for excluded workers, childcare providers, emergency rental and homeowner assistance, and small business recovery.