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DiNapoli: Tennessee Woman Sentenced for Stealing Deceased Mother's NYS Pension Checks

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the sentencing of Leslie Schwinzer, of Knoxville, Tennessee, for stealing pension checks that had been issued to her deceased mother. Schwinzer, 46, was sentenced on July 14, 2022 to pay over $56,000 in restitution and serve eight months home detention and two years’ probation before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.

New York State Agency Use of Overtime and State Workforce Trends, 2012-2021, July 2022

Certain New York State agencies experienced major spikes in overtime during 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but most overtime was performed in agencies that have typically relied upon it. And while the pandemic does not appear to have prompted a ‘great resignation’ from the State workforce as of 2021, workforce reductions since 2012, and prior years covered by this report, have been accompanied by a notable boost in overtime.

DiNapoli: Overtime Costs at State Agencies Reached All-Time High in 2021

The total cost of overtime in 2021 reached an all-time high at more than $924 million, up 8.7% from 2020, covering roughly 19.95 million overtime hours worked, or an increase of 4.3%, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Total overtime hours worked at state agencies have increased by 38% since 2012, while the number of employees has declined by more than 10% at 10 major agencies.

Distribution of Utility Arrears in New York State

The devastating number of job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in residential customers owing money to their utility companies. Over the course of the pandemic, the amount in arrears increased significantly for all utilities and more than doubled on a statewide basis. In March 2022, one in eight residential customers were in arrears—more than 1.2 million customers statewide, with $1.8 billion owed to utility companies across the State.

DiNapoli: Number of New Yorkers Behind on Utility Bills Soared During Pandemic

The devastating number of job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant increase in the number of residential customers owing money to their utility companies, with one in eight customers in arrears as of March 2022, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. More than 1.2 million customers statewide owed $1.8 billion with customers from New York City and Long Island comprising 60% of those in arrears and 68% of the amount owed.

DiNapoli Announces Nominee for the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his nomination of Nancy G. Groenwegen to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. Groenwegen previously served as counsel to the Comptroller from 2010 to 2019.

“Nancy is well known for her integrity and independence,” DiNapoli said. “New York is facing challenging times and needs an ethics commission that is committed to openness and accountability. Nancy’s character, knowledge and depth of experience will help New York meet those challenges and enhance the public’s faith in government.”

DiNapoli Audit Finds Lax Oversight of Medicaid Payments May Have Cost Taxpayers Nearly $300 Million

Too often Medicaid pays medical bills that a third-party insurer should have covered, and not enough is being done to make sure Medicaid recovers that money, according to an audit by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit found that a lack of oversight by the state Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) resulted in nearly $300 million in pharmacy claims that Medicaid never tried to recover from patients’ insurance providers.

State Fiscal Year 2022-23 Enacted Budget Financial Plan

After two years of extraordinary volatility in State finances, the State Fiscal Year 2022-23 Enacted Budget Financial Plan projects fiscal stability for the next five years and includes plans to bolster rainy day reserves significantly. However, this report identifies several revenue, spending, and sustainability risks that could disrupt the Financial Plan that should be monitored closely.

DiNapoli Releases Analysis of State Financial Plan

After two years of extraordinary volatility in state finances, the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 Enacted Budget Financial Plan from the Division of the Budget (DOB) projects fiscal stability for the next five years and includes plans to bolster rainy day reserves significantly, according to a report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. However, DiNapoli’s analysis identifies several revenue, spending, and sustainability risks that could disrupt the Financial Plan that should be monitored closely.

DiNapoli Releases Bond Calendar for Third Quarter

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced a tentative schedule of planned bond sales for New York State, New York City and their major public authorities during the third quarter of 2022.

The planned sales of $8.69 billion include $7.19 billion of new money and $1.5 billion of refundings and reofferings as follows: