New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to keep track of gift cards received during the holidays. When gift cards aren’t used for five years, their balances may be turned over by retailers to the Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF). In 2024, the office recovered over $21 million from gift cards, more than three times the amount received in 2014 ($5.8 million). New Yorkers are encouraged to spend holiday gift cards early this new year and remember to check for unclaimed funds.

In November, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,798 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $4.3 billion and approved nearly 1.9 million payments worth nearly $12.3 billion. The office rejected 234 contracts and related transactions valued at $818.1 million and nearly 1,000 payments valued at nearly $11.6 million, primarily for mistakes, insufficient support for charges, and improper payments. More information on these contracts and payments is available at Open Book New York. 

Three Metropolitan Transportation Authority agencies – Bridges & Tunnels (B&T), NYC Transit Department of Buses (Transit Bus), and MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus) need to improve their preparations for extreme weather as an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found a lack of maintenance and inspections of resiliency equipment, and a failure to follow weather alert procedures.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government and school audits were issued.

A 38-year-old Queens woman today was sentenced to five years' probation and paid full restitution after being convicted of stealing nearly $85,000 in New York state pension payments meant for her deceased father, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced. The defendant, Deanna Hansen, pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny in June.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has not done enough to consolidate its procurements across its agencies to save money as was expected under its Transformation Plan, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.