The historic surge in unemployment claims at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly depleted the New York State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund, resulting in the state borrowing from the federal government to pay claims. State UI tax rates have already risen to the highest level permissible under law in 2021. Unless the state or federal government takes significant action, federal UI tax rates on employers will also increase in 2022 and beyond, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P.

New York students with disabilities lost partial or full special education services because of school shutdowns and the shift to remote learning during the pandemic that likely exacerbated pre-existing achievement gaps, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

In July, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,440 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $11.1 billion and approved nearly 16.6 million payments worth nearly $13.7 billion. The office rejected 144 contracts and related transactions valued at $242.9 million and more than 5,800 payments valued at more than $25.2 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.

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

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

The New York State Common Retirement Fund (the Fund) voted against board directors at companies that failed to meet the Fund’s expectations for board diversity and filed shareholder proposals calling on companies to address investors’ concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion during the 2021 proxy season, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today. The Fund’s ongoing efforts to hold publicly traded corporations and their top executives accountable received strong support.

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

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced reductions in employer contribution rates to the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) for both of its systems – the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS). The adjusted rates will impact payments next State Fiscal Year 2022-23. In addition, DiNapoli lowered the long-term assumed rate of return on the Fund’s investments from 6.8% to 5.9%.

Newsday published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today urging New York's leaders to take steps that can help protect and strengthen the state's finances. The full op-ed is below:

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that former Family Service Society (FSS) Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Thurber today pleaded guilty to manipulating the organization’s payroll system to defraud the organization of over $5,500. Thurber altered the payroll system to increase her paid time off and lower her health insurance premiums, giving herself $5,518.77 in benefits that she was not entitled to.