Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

For the Week Ending April 27, 2014  DiNapoli: New York on Stronger Financial Footing New York state ended the 2013–14 fiscal year in the strongest fiscal position in years and was able to deposit $175 million in the Rainy Day Reserve Fund for the first time since 2008, according to a report on the recently enacted state budget released Monday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Still, the $143 billion budget continues to rely, in part, on temporary funding streams to attain balance. Comptroller DiNapoli and A.G. Schneiderman Announce Guilty Pleas by Former Met Council Directors for Stealing $9M in Kickback Scheme New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York State Attorney General Eric T. SchneidermanWednesday announced the guilty pleas of William Rapfogel, former executive director and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), and David Cohen, also a former executive director of the council. Rapfogel and Cohen both face prison time after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges for stealing, together with other co–conspirators, approximately $9 million from the taxpayer–funded nonprofit organization in a 20–year grand larceny and kickback scheme. DiNapoli: Major Retailers Agree to Stronger Supplier Oversight New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Thursday announced that Fortune 500 retailers Dollar Tree and Dillard’s have agreed to new reporting standards that will help ensure greater transparency and safety in their suppliers’ factories. The agreements will help safeguard the companies and their investors against the financial and reputational damage that can result when suppliers fail to uphold recognized standards of labor and workplace safety. As a result of the substantive agreements, DiNapoli has withdrawn his shareholder proposals asking the companies to strengthen their supply chain accountability. DiNapoli Offers Proposal to Encourage Better Local Government Budgeting State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Tuesday announced the introduction of a legislative proposal aimed at helping local governments across New York improve their long–term budget planning. The bill would provide reimbursement from the state to municipalities for costs incurred for hiring financial advisors to assist in the development of multi–year budget plans. DiNapoli Announces State Contract & Payment Actions for March 2014 State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Monday his office reviewed 2,379 contracts valued at $2.9 billion and approved more than 2.7 million payments worth more than $18.9 billion in March 2014. His office also rejected 202 contracts and related transactions valued at $531 million and 5,036 payments valued at more than $7.9 million due to fraud, waste or improprieties. Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Wednesday announced his office completed audits ofCenter Moriches Free Public Library; Town of Harmony; Village of Hillburn; Village of Liberty; Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency; Town of Villenova; and the Westmere Fire District. Comptroller DiNapoli Releases School Audits New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Wednesday announced his office completed audits of theDryden Central School District; New Rochelle City School District; Port Jefferson Union Free School District; and the Portville Central School District.

EDITORIAL: State’s financial health is fragile Ex-CEO admits to ‘knowingly’ stealing more than $9 million from prominent NYC charity State Comptroller’s report says New York is in a favorable financial position