Reports

Despite slower global economic growth and trade tensions, pretax profits for the securities industry grew by nearly 11 percent in the first half of 2019, reaching $15.1 billion, the best first half in a decade.

The greater Jackson Heights area in the northwestern portion of Queens (which includes East Elmhurst and North Corona) is one of the most diverse communities in New York City, with immigrants from around the world.

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The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the New York State and Local Retirement System (the System or NYSLRS) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

New York continues to benefit from a national economic expansion that has lasted for more than a decade, however, economic risks are growing. This report can help New Yorkers better understand the State’s financial and economic condition.

This report summarizes the fiscal and environmental results of all 1,586 New York counties, cities, towns and villages for their fiscal years ending (FYE) in 2018 and compares results to FYE 2017. It also points to useful tools to help local governments experiencing stress, such as multiyear financial planning to ensure that financial resources are available for future needs. 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is facing its greatest challenge in decades.

The City of Schenectady recently began installing energy saving LED street lights and expanding wireless connectivity to certain neighborhoods as part of its Smart City Project. Other local governments across New York State are also turning to new technologies to save money, better communicate with residents and allow taxpayers to make payments online. The report notes that local government leaders should be prepared to systematically address the heightened need for cybersecurity, particularly concerning smart infrastructure devices and related data.

The New York State Finance Law was amended in 2015 by adding a new section 8-c, which provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic system to help detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in government spending and avoid improper payment of public moneys.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State of New York for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

On any given day, millions of New Yorkers ride the subway or drive on public roads; public school buildings and facilities on college campuses open their doors to students across the State; essential services are provided at water plants, other environmental facilities and in homes for developmentally disabled individuals and psychiatric centers; individuals reside in publicly-supported housing; and citizens enjoy the outdoors at public parks.

The integral role of farming in New York State’s history, economy and quality of life is effectively enshrined in Article XIV of the State Constitution.

New York State’s Constitutional Tax Limit (CTL) restricts the amounts local governments may raise by taxing real estate in any fiscal year. All cities, counties and villages must comply. Overall, relatively few municipalities are dangerously close to their CTL; however, the number has been increasing in recent years. For these communities, the CTL poses a serious constraint on their ability to generate revenue. This report, using data through 2018, examines recent trends in the proximity of cities (excluding New York City), counties and villages to the CTL and focuses in more detail on those for whom the CTL poses the biggest budgeting challenge.

Parents, educators, the public and State policymakers agree that student safety must be a top priority in every school. This report summarizes some of the information reported by New York’s public school districts on violent and disruptive incidents and expenditures on school building security materials and equipment, and includes a series of regional profiles.

New York City is currently experiencing the largest and longest job expansion in the post– World War II period. Since 2009, the City has added 820,400 jobs, bringing employment to a record level of 4.55 million in 2018 and reducing the annual unemployment rate to 4.1 percent, the lowest on record.

The New York City subway system, which is used by more than 5 million riders each weekday, includes 472 stations. The system is operated by New York City Transit (NYCT), an affiliate of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Over the past 37 years, 287 stations have been renovated and countless others have had components repaired, at a cost of more than $6 billion.

Local sales tax collections for the first half of 2019 totaled $8.8 billion in New York State. Collections grew by 3.4 percent and 3.2 percent in the first and second quarters, respectively, over the same periods in 2018. This moderate pace is closer to those seen in most of 2017 than to the stronger early quarters of 2018.

Nonprofit organizations, large and small, provide a multitude of services throughout New York State. Many nonprofits deliver essential services on behalf of the State and other governmental entities, including health care, social welfare, care for the disabled, education and more. 

In January 2018, OSC initiated its series of audits to determine whether the MTA and constituent agencies have appropriate oversight and monitoring controls over homeless outreach services on MTA properties and whether they have met the goal of maintaining a safe, secure transit environment by assisting homeless individuals to appropriate shelters off MTA properties.

New York State continues to benefit from a historically long national economic expansion, now extending a full decade. The Division of the Budget (DOB) projects healthy growth in tax receipts and federal aid for the current fiscal year.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund continues to build on its efforts to integrate sustainability concepts into its investment strategy