Local sales tax collections in New York state increased by 1.5% in April compared to the same month in 2022, according to an analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.74 billion, up $25.8 million compared to the same time last year.

The unemployment rate for mothers in New York City has improved but it remains higher than it was prior to the pandemic, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report also found that 5.7% of city moms in the workforce were unemployed in 2022 compared to 3.4% nationally. Black mothers in the city are the hardest hit, facing an unemployment rate of 9%.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander today announced that they have called on Netflix shareholders to support their joint proposal urging the streaming service to uphold its employees’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Their shareholder proposal will be subject to a vote at the company’s annual meeting on June 1, 2023.

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

Overtime costs at state agencies rose 47.2% to more than $1.36 billion in 2022, setting a new record, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overtime hours increased 11.1% to 22.2 million over the same period. Overtime earnings comprised 7.5% of total payroll spending in 2022, a significant increase from the 4.6% average from 2013-2021.

New York City has recovered 99.4% of private sector jobs it lost in the pandemic, but unevenly across key industries, according to an analysis released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) has reached agreements with four major U.S. companies to evaluate and set targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and regularly report on their progress toward meeting their goals, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, trustee of the Fund, announced today. In response to the agreements, the Fund withdrew its shareholder resolutions with the companies.

In March, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 2,618 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $7.1 billion and approved nearly 4.2 million payments worth nearly $38.1 billion. The office rejected 159 contracts and related transactions valued at $272.6 million and nearly 9,200 payments valued at nearly $34.6 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.

A new report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing staffing pressures, particularly a shortage of staff nurses, in NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) facilities, leading to an increased reliance on temporary nurses and higher staffing costs.

"The state budget makes important investments in education and health care, including mental health care, and provides significant, recurring funding to the MTA that will help close budget gaps. The Governor has stated that reserves will equal 15% of State Operating Funds, consistent with recommendations I have long advocated. The budget also makes statutory changes that increase the allowable deposits and balances of the state's rainy day reserves. The state should put this authority to use by relying more on statutory, rather than informal, reserves.