Local sales tax collections in New York state increased by 1.5% in April compared to the same month in 2022. Overall, local collections totaled $1.74 billion, up $25.8 million compared to the same time last year.

Regional Table [.xlsx]

The unemployment rate for mothers in New York City has improved but it remains higher than it was prior to the pandemic. In 2022, 5.7% of City moms in the workforce were unemployed compared to 3.4% nationally. Black mothers in the City are the hardest hit, facing an unemployment rate of 9%. Some mothers in the City appear to be looking for flexible options outside full-time work, especially compared to the rest of the State and the nation.

Escalating debt service costs have long been a source of financial pressure at the MTA. The pandemic exacerbated these pressures causing ridership to drop and tax revenues to dry up. However, new sources of recurring revenue in the enacted State budget and other aid give the MTA an opportunity to ease the pressure that growing debt places on its operations and to stabilize its future finances.

Overtime costs at State agencies rose 47.2% to more than $1.36 billion in 2022, setting a new record. Despite several efforts to bolster the workforce, including salary increases and bonuses for a range of positions including health care workers, attrition of the State workforce accelerated in 2021, and the number of State employees continued to drop in 2022. As the State workforce has been reduced, total overtime hours and earnings have increased.