Millions of Americans still face housing insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 15 percent behind on rent payments at the end of June. New York City not only houses the majority of the State’s renters but also had relatively high rates of rent-burdened tenants prior to the pandemic.

On June 30, 2021, New York City adopted its $98.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2022. Excluding federal aid, the City will fund about $2 billion more in spending than was planned in its proposed executive budget in April, after adjusting for surplus transfers and money set aside for reserves. 

Personal income in New York State has surpassed pre-pandemic levels; while this is a positive development, there are two causes for concern. First, growth is primarily due to transfer receipts paid to New Yorkers from the government, which account for more than 20 percent of personal income. Second, earnings in seven industrial sectors, including the leisure and hospitality sector that was hardest hit during the pandemic, have not yet returned to pre-2020 levels.

In 2020, OSC completed 10 audits of preschool special education providers' expenses submitted to SED. These audits cumulatively identified over $4.4 million in recommended disallowances, or more than 3 percent of the total claimed expenses of $139.3 million for the audit period. 

The State Fiscal Year 2021-22 Enacted Budget Financial Plan reflects a remarkable improvement in the State’s financial condition, as New York and the nation have begun to recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a change in how people sought and received medical care; rather than visiting medical practitioners in person, increasing numbers of people used telehealth services. While telehealth usage in New York and nationally has declined since the pandemic peak, it remains well above pre-pandemic levels, though still only a small share of overall utilization.

One year after COVID-19 caused the sharpest economic contraction on record and exposed New York City’s finances to substantial risks, the City’s economy and finances are on the mend, thanks largely to unprecedented federal economic stimulus for businesses and individuals, and direct federal relief to New York State, New York City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.