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DiNapoli: Former Utica City School District Superintendent Pleads Guilty to Public Corruption

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, and the New York State Police today announced long-time superintendent of the Utica City School District (UCSD), Bruce Karam, pleaded guilty to the felony charge of public corruption for using taxpayer funds to help support a political campaign relating to the 2021 Utica City School Board election and a non-school related fundraiser.

Local Sales Tax Collections Increased by 4.2 Percent in 2023, February 2024

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $23 billion in calendar year 2023, up 4.2 percent (or nearly $919 million) compared 2022. This past year’s growth lagged compared to both 2021 and 2022, when a combination of rising inflation and a surge in taxable sales statewide led to double-digit growth after significant COVID-related declines in 2020. Despite the slowdown, collections returned to growth rates more consistently seen before the pandemic.

Fiscal Stress Monitoring System – School Districts: Fiscal Year 2022-23 Results

This snapshot highlights the Fiscal Stress Monitoring System (FSMS) results for school districts that reported for school fiscal year (SY) 2022-23, which ended on June 30, 2023. Increases to federal pandemic relief aid and the State fully funding foundation aid kept many districts out of a stress designation. For SY 2022-23, sixteen school districts were designated as being in stress—the second-lowest number since the system was created. The report also includes a look at districts that have been chronically stressed over the eleven years since FSMS began.

DiNapoli: 16 School Districts Designated in Fiscal Stress

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.