Accounting Notices and Bulletins

Changes to Revenue and Expenditure Accounts Resulting from Welfare Reform

Federal and State Welfare Reform legislation has brought about program and funding changes which necessitate revisions to the revenue and expenditure accounts listed below. These changes are based on recent revisions to Chapter 2, Volume I, of the Fiscal Reference Manual published by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Reporting of Tobacco Asset Securitization Corporations

The purpose of this bulletin is to amend our January 2001 bulletin entitled ‘Tobacco Settlement Payments’ based upon the release of GASB Technical Bulletin No. 2004-1 ‘Tobacco Settlement Recognition and Financial Reporting Entity Issues.’

Social Service Block Grants and Targeted Medicaid Cost Savings

Chapter 83 of the Laws of 1995 adds Social Services Law section 153-i, Block Grants for family and children’s services. The law requires the New York State Department of Social Services to apportion the state funds appropriated among the social services districts by a formula contained in section 153-i, subdivision 1, paragraph b.

Accounting and Budgeting for Shared Sales Tax Revenues

This bulletin highlights accounting and budgeting changes for counties who share their own sales tax revenues with other local governments within their boundaries. These changes are necessitated by the recent Statements from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

Local Government Report on Private Sale of Bonds

Effective August 13, 2010, Chapter 386 of the Laws of New York amended Section 63.00 of the Local Finance Law to increase the cap on bonds issued through private sales from $1 million to $5 million (this provision sunsets on June 1, 2012, at which time the cap will revert to $1 million absent action by the State Legislature).

Handicapped Parking Education Program

Chapter 497 of the Laws of 1999 amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law effective onApril 1, 2000 to provide that every county and the City of New York shall establish a handicapped parking education program for the purpose of providing education, advocacy and increased public awareness of handicapped parking laws.

New York City Watershed Agreement

An agreement for the purpose of protecting New York City’s drinking water supply and the economic vitality of the upstate Watershed communities. The agreement provides for expenditures by New York City and the State of New York on various long-range watershed protection and water quality enhancement programs.