This report examines comparative data for 10 rural counties in New York to identify challenges faced by these communities and others like them, as well as opportunities. Population, employment, housing and other trends were considered, and these findings can be used as a baseline from which future trends can be measured. The median age of people living in these 10 rural counties increased at nearly twice the rate of the State between 2011 and 2021 while simultaneously population numbers declined.

Local sales tax collections in New York State grew by 4% in August compared to the same month in 2022. Overall, local collections totaled $1.78 billion, up $67.9 million compared to the same time last year.

Regional Table [.xlsx]

Local sales tax collections in New York State grew by 3% in July compared to the same month in 2022. Overall, local collections totaled $1.82 billion, up $53.3 million compared to the same time last year.

Regional Table [.xlsx]

New York City’s residential real estate market has proven resilient to the COVID-19 pandemic recession, with family homes in the outer boroughs seeing significant growth in value as people sought larger spaces amid limited supply. However, changes to tax bills do not necessarily follow market values due to assessment caps and phase-ins. The complexity of the City’s property tax structure led to significantly larger increases in tax bills for lower-valued properties during the pandemic.

New York State voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2013 which authorized seven commercial casinos. The first four of those opened between 2016 and 2018 in upstate communities and the Request for Applications for the remaining three licenses for downstate communities began in January 2023. This report analyzes the impact the revenue from the four upstate commercial casinos has had on the affected local governments.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.7 billion in the second quarter of 2023 (April-June), an increase of 3%, or nearly $167 million, compared to the same period last year.

Regional Table [.xlsx]

New York State will have to take multiple steps to increase renewable electricity generation to achieve the objectives of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Success will also require State agencies to consistently and proactively identify and address problems, continue streamlining permit and interconnection study procedures, and develop the necessary infrastructure to connect renewable projects to the grid and New Yorkers' homes.

The federal- and State-funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program has distributed nearly $3.1 billion to approximately 250,000 applicants statewide. New York City’s residents received most of the funding (81.2%), followed by residents in Suffolk County (2.9%), Westchester County (2.7%) and Erie County (2.5%). The State and the City must continue to monitor renters’ ability to make payments and ensure any future funding, including the most recent commitment in the State budget, reaches the households that need it the most.

State tax receipts totaled $27.6 billion through the first quarter of State Fiscal Year 2023-24, $450.8 million higher than estimates released in the Division of the Budget’s Enacted Budget Financial Plan. However, collections were $6.8 billion lower than last year through the quarter ending in June 2022.

New York will receive nearly $665 million as part of recent federal investments to improve broadband data, affordability, access and availability. New federal funds present an opportunity for the State to improve the availability of reliable, high-speed service to unserved and underserved areas, and the State must now craft a plan that is ambitious, actionable and accountable for meeting this objective.