Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 1.81 percent for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, down from a 2 percent cap in each of the two previous years, according to data released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“As the levy growth rate dips below 2 percent, school district and municipal officials need to be fiscally cautious and examine where they can limit spending to stay under the cap,” DiNapoli said. “Local governments will have to examine their budgets more closely to control expenses.”

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

Village of Cobleskill – Misappropriated Funds and Board Oversight (Schoharie County)
The board failed to implement proper internal controls and the former clerk-treasurer did not adequately perform her duties. As a result, the former clerk-treasurer received inappropriate payments totaling $8,828.

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

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

Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the jury verdict of the former City of Mount Vernon Corporation Counsel Lawrence Porcari for abusing his position as a public official to engage in a scheme that defrauded the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply of $365,000 to pay the personal legal expenses of the former Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and a public relations firm.

Former Delhi Village Clerk Michele Barnes pleaded guilty on Thursday after pocketing $4,788 in public funds for her personal use. Her thefts were brought to light during an audit and investigation by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office.

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

Town of Ancram – Financial and Capital Planning (Columbia County)

The board did not develop multiyear financial or capital plans. In addition, auditors found the board also did not adopt a fund balance and reserve policy.

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

Town of Cairo – Fuel Management (Greene County)

Auditors found that 87 percent of fuel usage documents were not completed or kept up to date by highway department personnel. In addition, town officials were only able to account for 12,571 gallons (29 percent) of fuel valued at $23,325 out of the 43,632 gallons of fuel valued at $93,324 that was used.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced the arrests of Annette Bigelow, 59, and Mary Nash, 58, for allegedly concealing their mother’s death to collect $21,694 in her retirement funds from 2013 to 2015. The two Westchester County residents are charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony.

New York’s local governments had $43.6 billion in total outstanding debt in 2018, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Total debt has remained fairly steady since the Great Recession, after more than doubling from 1998 to 2010. A major factor behind the slower debt growth over the last ten years is that school districts have borrowed less.