State Budget Lacks Transparency

State Budget Lacks Transparency

By Kathy Kahn At 11:45p.m. on March 31, Albany lawmakers passed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $168.3 Billion NYS Budget for fiscal year 2018-2019, but no mention of how to address the $4 billion deficit the state faces were included.  It is the fourth consecutive year the budget was passed “on time.” Among the positives: A uniform policy on sexual […]

Upstate New York sees spike in sales tax revenue; Rockland has modest increase

Upstate New York sees spike in sales tax revenue; Rockland has modest increase

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced this week that overall local sales tax collections for calendar year 2017. Rockland County’s sales tax revenue increased 2 percent from $205 to $209 million.  Sales tax totaled $16.6 billion across New York State, an increase of $620 million, or 3.9 percent over the previous year, marking the highest year-over-year growth statewide since 2013. New […]

Using state authorities to fund unrelated debt must end, says NYS Comptroller

Using state authorities to fund unrelated debt must end, says NYS Comptroller

By Kathy Kahn During the Roaring 20s, New York created its first public authority—The Port Authority of New York. Since then, that bloated agency has been joined by over 600 “authorities” – a swamp where funding allocated to a specific authority often ends up underwriting unrelated state projects outside its purview. With New York’s state-funded debt […]

State Comptroller says Rockland still faces fiscal stress, particularly in Town of Ramapo

State Comptroller says Rockland still faces fiscal stress, particularly in Town of Ramapo

By Kathy Kahn NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, guest speaker at the Rockland Business Assn. May 18 luncheon, praised its Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council’s two members, President of Rockland Community College, Dr. Cliff Wood (retiring June 30) and RBA President/CEO, Al Samuels. With credited courses and apprenticeships/internships geared toward creating a viable education/employment program, theirs […]