Reports

This report explains what land banks are, discusses how they can help local governments cope with high concentrations of vacant and abandoned properties and identifies factors that could determine their long-term success. 

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, 2016.

On July 27, 2016, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released a preliminary budget for 2017 and an associated financial plan (the “July Plan”). The outlook for the MTA’s budget has improved considerably over the past year as it continues to benefit from the economic recovery, and from low energy costs and interest rates.

After closing deep projected budget gaps just a few years ago, New York State’s short-term financial condition has improved. The State’s General Fund ended SFY 2015-16 with an exceptionally large balance, which enhances budgetary flexibility in the near term and is expected to support increased capital investment and other purposes over multiple years.

This report examines and summarizes notable trends in the fiscal scores of all New York counties, cities, towns and villages regardless of their fiscal year end dates, for the period 2013 to 2015.

The Greater Jamaica area in Queens fell on hard times during the 1970s, but has been slowly recovering.

Countless New Yorkers have found higher education the path to a more satisfying and financially secure life. Each year, college graduates, young and not-so-young, embark upon new opportunities that may have been unattainable without the benefits of college and university studies.

The Greater Sunset Park area of western Brooklyn is a dynamic area with residential communities, strong commercial corridors and one of New York City’s largest manufacturing and industrial centers.

September 11, 2001, was a tragic day for the nation, one which will never be forgotten. In New York City, the terrorist attacks took the lives of more than 2,700 people, including hundreds of first responders. There was extensive damage to property and infrastructure, and the economy of the City, and of Lower Manhattan in particular, was shaken.

Chapter 566 of the Laws of 2015, the “Enterprise Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention and Detection Act” (Act), codified as State Finance Law § 8-c, was enacted in December 2015 and took effect on April 19, 2016. The Act sets forth provisions for a Statewide electronic system to help detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and the improper payment of public moneys.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State of New York for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.

An economic recession, as the old saying goes, is when your neighbor becomes unemployed—and a depression is when it happens to you. A similar logic applies to economic recoveries: whatever the experts may say about the national outlook, most of us are especially concerned about good jobs and good wages in our own communities.

Total local sales tax collections grew by 1.7 percent or $130 million in the first half of 2016, compared to the first half of 2015.

On June 14, 2016, the City of New York submitted a four-year financial plan (the “June Plan”) covering fiscal years 2017 through 2020 to the New York State Financial Control Board.

Each year when the State’s budget is enacted, much attention understandably is devoted to its immediate impact. But New York’s history shows that we also need to pay attention to the longer term.

Economically, the Mid-Hudson region is relatively prosperous: county median incomes and property values are both well above the State and national averages as are the costs of living and doing business there. Current unemployment is below 5 percent in most of the counties, with a significant number of residents commuting to New York City. Recent economic development efforts have focused on attracting biotechnology and other high-tech manufacturing and on activities that take advantage of the region’s extensive road systems and generally well-developed infrastructure.

The New York State Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (“MWBE”) Asset Management and Financial Institution Strategy (Chapter 171, Laws of 2010) was enacted to codify and replicate best practices for providing MWBEs (or firms) that are asset managers, investment banks and financial and professional service providers with the opportunity to offer services to fiduciary-controlled entities established by New York State law.

This report, one in a series of reports by Comptroller DiNapoli on public authorities in New York State, summarizes the revenues, expenditures, employment and certain other key data of the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA).

New York State’s hotel industry has experienced a decade of strong growth, driven by an increase in tourism. A record number of visitors (227.5 million) came to New York State in 2014, and a new record was likely set in 2015.

New York State continues to experience record numbers of homeless people. Generally, the focus of media coverage and policy discussions is on New York City and other large metropolitan areas as they contain the largest populations of homeless.