Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

Entergy Shareholders To Take Up DiNapoli Proposal On Nuclear Power Safety

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Friday raised concerns with the storage of nuclear fuel at Entergy Inc.’s annual shareholder meeting in Little Rock, Ark. DiNapoli’s shareholder proposal calls for the company to implement a policy to minimize the amount of nuclear waste it stores in spent fuel pools and transfer that waste into dry cask storage.

DiNapoli: State Overtime Costs on the Rise

Overtime earnings at state agencies rose nearly 11 percent in 2012 to $529 million, escalating a trend that began in 2009, according to a report released Tuesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

DiNapoli: State Ends Fiscal Year in Solid Position But Challenges Remain

Despite unexpected costs from Superstorm Sandy and a weaker than expected economy, New York State ended state fiscal year 2012–13 in a stable cash position compared to recent years, according to an end of the year report released Monday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

DiNapoli: St. Lawrence County Needs Long–Range Financial Plan

St. Lawrence County is coping with cash flow difficulties and a sharp decline in surplus funds, according to anaudit issued Thursday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit notes that the county’s weakening fiscal health has resulted in program cuts, tax increases and a potential operating deficit.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Wednesday announced his office completed the following audits: the Village of Dresden; the Village of Hempstead; the Village of Middleburgh; the Town of Newfield; theTown of Pulteney; and, the Village of Whitney Point.

Comptroller DiNapoli School Releases Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Wednesday announced his office completed audits of the the Campbell–Savona Central School District; and, the Maine Endwell Central School District.

To see more news online click here.

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

Press Office   Albany Phone: 518-474-4015   Fax: 518-473-8940   NYC Phone: 212-681-4840   Fax: 212-681-4468   E-Mail: press@osc.state.ny.us   Twitter: @NYSComptroller

Freedom of Information Requests Phone: 518-474-4015 Fax: 518-473-8940 Email: foil@osc.state.ny.us How to File a Request

Click Here for Previous Press Releases

March 2013

• DiNapoli: Rochester Faces Serious Fiscal and Demographic Challenges, March 4, 2013
• DiNapoli Honors Chinese-American Community Leaders at Lunar New Year Celebration, March 1, 2013
• Comptroller DiNapoli Announces Sale of General Obligation Bonds, March 1, 2013
• Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits, March 1, 2013
• Comptroller DiNapoli Releases School Audits, March 1, 2013
• DiNapoli Audit Finds $26 Million In Medicaid Overpayments, March 1, 2013

To see the online version click here

Fiscal cracks plague The Egg

By Rick Karlin

ALBANY — The Egg is broken and in need of some hard-boiled management to make things right.

That's the thrust of a report from the state Authorities Budget Office that looked at finances and oversight for the popular performance space that looms over the Empire State Plaza.

Among the key findings: The site has been losing money since 2008 when one considers the state-subsidized overhead; the board of directors is rudderless and plagued by vacancies and absenteeism; and finances are scrambled by several bank accounts and weak spending controls.

"What the review team found was there was a lot of talk, (but) there was not necessarily a cohesive plan of action," ABO Director David Kidera said.

While there was no suggestion of wrongdoing, reviewers concluded the facility should be handed over to the state, with an agency such as the Office of General Services either running it or hiring a professional venue operator.

"Since Gov. Cuomo took office, the Office of General Services has played a key role in revamping, reconstructing and revitalizing the areas and facilities around and literally below The Egg," said Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi. "We'll review the report and the recommendations."

The Egg is governed by a public benefit corporation. It operates as a nonprofit and is controlled by directors appointed by lawmakers and primarily the governor.
Known as much for its unique shape and center-stage spot in the city's skyline, The Egg offers an eclectic and busy schedule of performances ranging from B-list rock artists and stand-up comics to dance troupes, blues acts and jazz.
But with the state facing its own budgetary challenges, the venue's subsidy has been shrinking, a change that is threatening its viability.
The Egg's appropriation fell from $540,000 to $245,000 during the 2010-11 fiscal year, and dropped again to $220,000 in 2011-12. As of last year, it was running a $139,000 loss on revenue of $1.5 million.
The ABO contended that there's no real plan to deal with the shortfall. The board, technically made up of 18 appointed members, appears to be only slightly more active than some of the paintings gracing the adjacent Empire State Plaza concourse.
One board member hasn't come to a meeting in 10 years, and has reportedly moved to Florida. Another has missed the last seven meetings. There's been no permanent chairperson since 2011.

Acting Chairman Bryan Petraitis couldn't be reached on Thursday. The Egg's Executive Director Peter Lesser said the organization was still reviewing the 22-page report and couldn't yet comment.

"The board hasn't had a chance to meet for a response," he said, adding that it will meet March 21.

The Egg's financial travails have been known for a while. Two years ago, then-chairman Neil Davidoff said the facility was in a "death spiral." At the time, he stepped down to make way for a chairman with fundraising expertise.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't named a permanent chairperson since then.

In its written response, The Egg's management noted the ABO study was based on a year's worth of observations during a particularly challenging period.

The response also makes note of The Egg's key role in the cultural life of Albany. The venue typically offers several shows a week. The website lists upcoming acts including the Philadanco dance company, the Cowboy Junkies, jazzmen Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola, the traditional Irish band Altan and Hammer of the Gods, a Led Zeppelin tribute band.

It was unclear if other sections of the site were up to date. For instance, the director who hasn't come to a meeting in a decade — a Pataki-era appointee named Wendy Shave — isn't currently listed.


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Fiscal-cracks-seen-at-Egg-4316522.php#ixzz2MWLpyEQ6

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

DiNapoli Reaches Agreement with Cabot Oil and Gas to Disclose Policies on Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Tuesday that Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation has agreed to publicly disclose its policy and procedures for eliminating or minimizing the use of toxic substances in its hydraulic fracturing fluids. As a result of the agreement, DiNapoli has withdrawn his shareholder proposal submitted for the company’s 2013 proxy statement calling for a report on the use of these substances in Cabot’s shale energy operations.

DiNapoli: Special Education Providers Charged Taxpayers for Excessive Salaries and Personal Items

The owners of two Manhattan–based special education providers claimed more than $500,000 in expenses to which they were not entitled, including extra money for their salaries, vehicle costs and personal expenses, as well as bonuses for staff that could not be justified, according to two audits released Thursday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit findings are being considered for referral to law enforcement.

DiNapoli: Court Allows Securities Litigation Class Action Against BP To Move Forward

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli commended a Houston federal judge’s decision on Thursday to allow a securities class action case against BP plc to go forward. “We are pleased that the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s claims on behalf of BP’s investors will proceed,” DiNapoli said. “Shareholders saw their investments plummet in value following the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Now information has come to light that BP was wholly unprepared to respond to the risks of its deep sea operations and incapable of adequately reacting when something went wrong.”

DiNapoli Receives Hubert H. Humphrey Humanitarian Award

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli received the Hubert H. Humphrey Humanitarian Award in recognition of his lifetime of public service to the state of New York and its citizens. The award was presented at the United Federation of Teachers’ annual Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference held last the weekend at which DiNapoli delivered the luncheon keynote address.

DiNapoli: Gloversville Faces Fiscal Challenges

Long–term population loss continues to limit economic growth in the city of Gloversville, according to a report issued Wednesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. City officials, however, have established critical rainy day funds by controlling the growth in spending, which helped lead to a recent upgrade to the city’s credit rating. The report is the latest in a series of fiscal profiles on cities across the state released by the Comptroller’s office.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Wednesday announced his office completed audits of:
the Town of Bangor; the Town of Black Brook; the Town of Florida; the Jericho Fire District; the City of Mechanicville; the Town of Olive; and, the Watertown Housing Authority.

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

DiNapoli Finalizes Fiscal Monitoring System

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Monday his office has finalized plans to implement a statewide fiscal monitoring system that would publicly identify local governments experiencing financial strain.

DiNapoli: Inappropriate Payments Cited In Kingston Audit

The city of Kingston made $23,000 in improper payments to employees for unearned leave time, according to an audit released Thursday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. As a result of the audit, former fire chief Richard Salzmann was arrested and charged by Ulster County District Attorney D. Holley Carnright with offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor.

DiNapoli: Empire BlueCross BlueShield Paying Hospitals Windfalls For Special Medical Items

New York State health insurance provider Empire BlueCross BlueShield has routinely allowed hospitals to charge excessive amounts for special medical items such as implants, drugs and blood, because they did not sign agreements to limit reimbursement for those items, according to an audit of the New York State Health Insurance Program released Friday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

DiNapoli: Utica Facing Continued Fiscal Challenges

The city of Utica continues to struggle with recurring budget gaps and has nearly depleted its fund balances, according to a fiscal report issued Tuesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report is the latest in a series of fiscal profiles on cities across the state.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Thursday announced his office completed audits of:

the Big Flats Fire District No. 2; the Golden Glow Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; the Lincoln Fire District; and, the Village of Richmondville.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases School Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Thursday announced his office completed audits of:

the Hadley–Luzerne Central School District; and, the Hyde Park Central School District.

Statement on Fiscal Cliff Deal

NYCON's Statement on the "Fiscal Cliff" Deal and Implications for New York State's Nonprofits  

The New York Council of Nonprofits, along with colleagues nationwide, expresses mixed views about the passage of the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" (H.R.8, as amended).

NYCON applauds Congress for the strong bipartisan vote in passing a compromise bill to avert certain immediate threats posed by the fiscal cliff. We thank those elected officials and staff members on Capitol Hill and at the White House who worked around the clock to make this compromise possible and for maintaining incentives for charitable giving for most Americans. As negotiations continue on the now-postponed sequestration cuts and on the debt ceiling, we encourage Congress and the President to recognize how essential these incentives are for the work charitable nonprofits perform in every community throughout the country.

However, the New York Council of Nonprofits also would like to express deep concern that Congress and the President have failed to resolve the pending across-the-board cuts of $54.6 billion from domestic spending programs that will touch virtually every person and every community in America.  

Federal policymakers have failed to recognize that the arbitrary sequestration cuts to domestic programs will reduce funding without reducing the underlying human needs, thereby increasing demands on states, local governments, and nonprofits in local communities while also decreasing resources to provide needed services. Too many policymakers apparently are unaware that federal funding actually flows to the states and localities to deliver basic human services. Often these services are delivered through contracts with nonprofits because governments have found charitable nonprofits to be more efficient and effective, in part because they are mission-driven rather than profit-driven. After five years of serving so many more for so much longer with so much less, America's charitable nonprofits are past the breaking point. 

 

Kicking the can down the road means kicking those who are already down and struggling to get back up. We must keep up the pressure on Congress and the President to stop the punitive and arbitrary cuts and get to work on continuing our economic recovery.

To learn and do more, NYCON encourages our members to visit the National Council of Nonprofits website at www.councilofnonprofits.org.

For the full article click here.

Now Available: New NYCON Fiscal Tools

New NYCON Fiscal Tools
Now Available: Budget and Cashflow Toolkits

Just in time for next year’s budget and cash flow planning, NYCON has developed a new benefit for our member that will truly be the “best friend” of every fiscal person who uses it. Designed with the needs and resources of the smaller to medium sized nonprofit in mind, NYCON’s Chief Fiscal Officer and staff have designed a “fool proof” tool for developing a streamlined, compliant and easy to understand budget.

The features of the Budget Toolkit include:

1. Built in instructions on “Getting Started” and “How to Develop Your Budget” 

2. Built in formulas and linked spreadsheets

3. Definitions & Glossary on types of budgets, frequently used budgeting terms & more

4. Templates that your organization can utilize to customize for your own organization’s budget and salary and fringe expenditures.

5. And more!

COST:

Budget & Cash Flow Toolkit Combo
Members:                    $299.00
Non-Members:              $399.00
*Any nonprofit attending this webinar (our first for this very important tool!) will receive a 25% discount off of the prices above.

Cash Flow Toolkit
Members:                     $29.99
Non-Members:              $59.99
*Any nonprofit attending this webinar (our first for this very important tool!) will receive a 25% discount off of the prices above

Interested in learning more?

Here's a Link to a recording of a recent webinar on these fiscal tools