This report provides a summary analysis of the financial state of the local governments outside of New York City for local fiscal years ending in 2023. In FYE 2023, local governments and school districts were generally able to maintain fund balance levels and cash on hand due to pandemic-related federal funding and large increases in state aid, while lower inflation compared to FYE 2022 tempered growth in expenditures on equipment and materials. | NYS Local Government Interactive Data

This report examines the ways that funding received by local governments – from federal stimulus programs – as well as volatile annual state and local revenue sources – can impact local budgeting. The temporary nature of the federal stimulus funds in combination with state aid that has not kept pace with inflation, sales tax growth that has returned to lower pre-pandemic levels, and flat property tax revenue growth can put local governments closer to the edge of the fiscal cliff if not carefully managed.

Sales tax collections for local governments and other local taxing entities in New York State totaled $23.4 billion in calendar year 2024, up 1.6 percent (or nearly $376 million) from the prior year. This increase not only marked the lowest year-over-year rate of growth in collections since the COVID-related decline in 2020, but it was less than half the average annual growth rate (3.8 percent) for the 2011 to 2019 period of recovery and expansion following the Great Recession.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.98 billion in the third calendar quarter of 2024, up 1.4 percent (or $82.7 million) compared to the same quarter last year. Statewide local collections this past quarter continued a general trend of declining growth that followed a post-pandemic spike. In fact, the third quarter’s 1.4 percent growth was the lowest quarterly year-over-year increase following the pandemic-induced declines.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.83 billion in the second calendar quarter of 2024, up 2.2 percent (or $127 million) compared to the same quarter last year. While year-over-year growth in the second quarter was slightly stronger than the 1.6 percent increase seen in the first quarter, it still lagged growth rates realized after the first quarter in 2021. However, it was not unusual to see collections increase around (or under) 2 percent, year over year, in the decade before the pandemic.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.6 billion in the first calendar quarter of 2024, up 1.6 percent (or $87.3 million) compared to the same quarter last year. While this marked the lowest rate of growth since the same quarter in 2021, it is important to note that where were several quarters of under 2 percent growth in the two decades prior to the pandemic. New York City’s 3.2 percent increase in first quarter collections was responsible for nearly all statewide growth.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $23 billion in calendar year 2023, up 4.2 percent (or nearly $919 million) compared 2022. This past year’s growth lagged compared to both 2021 and 2022, when a combination of rising inflation and a surge in taxable sales statewide led to double-digit growth after significant COVID-related declines in 2020. Despite the slowdown, collections returned to growth rates more consistently seen before the pandemic.

This report provides a summary analysis of the financial state of the local governments outside of New York City for local fiscal years ending in 2022. In FYE 2022, local governments had a more stable environment, both financially and operationally, compared to the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, some new challenges presented themselves, such as a sharp rise in inflation. | NYS Local Government Interactive Data.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.9 billion in the third calendar quarter of 2023, up 3.6 percent (or over $205 million) compared to the same period last year. This marked the second consecutive quarter of moderate growth, signaling a return to lower pre-pandemic growth rates. New York City’s third quarter growth strengthened, with collections increasing by 4.9 percent, while the counties and cities throughout the rest of the State, in aggregate, experienced 2.4 percent growth.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.7 billion in the second calendar quarter of 2023, up 3 percent (or $167 million) compared to the same period last year. Second quarter growth was less strong than the 7.1 percent seen in the first quarter. In fact, overall growth has continued to slow since April-June 2021.