Sentences with phrase «fiscal watchdog»

But fiscal watchdog groups say the program is severely flawed, and the money could be better used on something else.

New York's top fiscal watchdog says he has been directly involved in fighting political corruption in the state.

NEW YORK, Feb 14 - Parts of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's nearly $ 170 billion proposed budget would raise concerns about transparency by expanding his control over state spending, the state's chief fiscal watchdog said on Wednesday.

Beyond the New York State Comptroller's responsibilities as fiscal watchdog over the state's finances and the management practices of state agencies, the position has particular importance to CSEA members.

«Our taxpayers are supposed to have a chief fiscal watchdog overlooking state budgets, so how is it possible that we are in the shape we are in?

A group of government reform advocates and independent fiscal watchdogs including the CBC praised in particular the «database of deals» and the Public Integrity Act, calling on the state Assembly to approve them.

The Buffalo News turned to three sources: the Cuomo administration; a state lawmaker involved in the negotiations; and an outside fiscal watchdog of state finances.

For fiscal watchdogs, the so - called pension sweeteners can be problematic: chipping away at savings achieved in new pension tiers that were approved as a way to save the state money in the long - term.

The top fiscal watchdogs in Suffolk County government are critical of County Executive Steve Bellone's recommended $ 2.96 billion county budget for 2017.

Carol Kellermann, the president of nonpartisan fiscal watchdog Citizens Budget Commission, was equally outraged, telling The Observer, «Funds paid in settlement of litigation with the state, unless intended to compensate for specific losses, should be used as determined through the normal budget and appropriation process.

No changes were made in the budget to how education aid is divvied up to school districts, something even fiscal watchdogs like Citizens Budget Commission have called for, so that state money is going where it is needed most, not to wealthy districts as much as poorer districts.

Even the estate tax benefit is questionable, said E.J. McMahon, research director at the Empire Center, a state fiscal watchdog group.

He called the Citizens Budget Commission a «self - appointed fiscal watchdog group,» saying, in a statement, that he had hoped the organization would «recognize and celebrate» the Cuomo Administration's success at reigning in spending — but, he said, «their relevancy is based on their critiques.»

Suozzi has claimed Mangano has mismanaged the county's finances, which have been under the supervision of a state - appointed fiscal watchdog since 1999 — predating both officials» elections.

A liberal former state lawmaker (Richard Brodsky) and a conservative fiscal watchdog (EJ MCMahon) have joined forces — calling on the state to redirect billions of dollars in unspent legal settlement money to help fix the subways.

Cuomo himself has said the state deficit is at least $ 4 billion, but other fiscal watchdogs have said it could grow to more than $ 7 billion.

Fiscal watchdogs question the expense and cost of subsidizing the film industry, especially in New York City, where a number of movies and TV shows have already been made due to the iconic locations.

Cuomo maintains the proliferation of local governments in New York is one of the principle drivers of property taxes in the state, an assertion fiscal watchdogs have disputed.

Cuomo has also repeatedly contended the volume of local government is the main driver of property taxes in New York, though fiscal watchdogs have disagreed.

Fiscal watchdogs disagree with the assessment, saying with adjusted spending, the revenue could still be shored up in the final budget.

Two fiscal watchdogs voiced concern over the de Blasio administration's contract with the UFT, saying it is unlikely the two sides will achieve the savings in health benefits necessary to afford the deal.

Scott has been a tireless and dedicated public servant, and he has the temperament and judgment to be a first rate fiscal watchdog for the taxpayers of New York City.

Chris Callaghan has the integrity, the honesty and the decades of experience to restore faith in the Comptroller's Office, and I know that he will make an outstanding fiscal watchdog for the people of New York State.

«A lack of fiscal transparency and accountability affects everything we are trying to achieve as a state,» said DiNapoli, a Democrat in office as the state's elected fiscal watchdog since 2007.

The Citizens Budget Commission, a nonprofit fiscal watchdog, has similarly stated that agencies should «identify agency improvements» to find an additional $ 500 million in savings which the mayor promised would be included in his executive budget.

Also, we are proud to endorse Jim Quigley as his unique professional experience will undoubtedly allow him to be an excellent fiscal watchdog of Ulster County.»

Just hours before the Erie County Executive was set to deliver his State of the County Address, the county's top fiscal watchdog issued a warning that the county overestimated sales tax revenues for 2015 and could see a serious budget problem if it doesn't curb spending in 2016.

Maria Doulis, vice president of Citizens Budget Commission (CBC), a non-profit fiscal watchdog, said the current process for deciding the capital budget is misguided.

Erie County's fiscal watchdog became official yesterday, as David Shenk was sworn in as county comptroller, filling a spot left vacant when Mark Poloncarz became county executive.

«Now more than ever, New York City needs an active fiscal watchdog.

The state's top fiscal watchdog advised the town board to consult with its legal counsel to determine what remedies are available to address the taxpayer inequities.

This expansion has drawn flak from the Citizens Budget Commission, an influential fiscal watchdog in Manhattan.

The Manhattan - based fiscal watchdog group said state spending on two major programs — public education and Medicaid — is due to rise more than double the overall 2 percent government spending increase cap.

The state's top fiscal watchdog appeared in Niagara Falls on Monday to outline an already dismal budget picture.

Faulkner took aim at what he called «runaway spending» under Mayor de Blasio, saying Stringer has failed to be a strong enough fiscal watchdog as the «out of control» city budget has grown by more than 20 % over the last four years.

While Gov. Andrew Cuomo has lauded the program as a departure from the secretive «pork barrel» spending of the past — «It's a waste of money, we did it for a lot of years, it failed,» he told Politico New York in February — the program has come scrutiny by lawmakers and fiscal watchdog groups as at best, overly optimistic and at worst, lacking oversight and tainted by scandals that have marred other economic initiatives, including the Buffalo Billion.

«It's clear the Council is trying to assert itself in budgeting,» said Maria Doulis, vice president of Citizens Budget Commission, an independent fiscal watchdog.

Spitzer believed Hevesi's ability to serve as fiscal watchdog was compromised.

NEW YORK (Reuters)- Half of the money spent so far from New York state's $ 10 billion in legal settlement windfall has gone to support the state budget rather than the capital projects for which it should be used, the state's chief fiscal watchdog said on Friday.

Fiscal watchdogs like EJ McMahon of the Empire Center for NYS Policy warn the reliance on taxing the rich as well as revenue from Wall Street could make for uncertain times in the near future.

Auditors flagged overpayments to the town's sewer capital projects fund, revenues recorded in wrong accounts, discrepancies in bank reconciliations and an overall lack of proper auditing procedures that state fiscal watchdogs said has ultimately led to a loss for taxpayers.

One might think a self - appointed fiscal watchdog group would recognize and celebrate such fiscal responsibility, but their relevancy is based on their critiques,» said Morris Peters, a spokesman for Cuomo's budget office.

Liu, a former Queens councilman, took over as the city's fiscal watchdog in 2010, becoming the first Asian - American elected to a citywide office.

Erie County's top fiscal watchdog says the family leave policy for county employees is outdated and should be changed to allow parents precious paid time to bond with newborns or newly adopted children.

The Albany - based think tank and fiscal watchdog group Empire Center for Public Policy launched in 2005 as a project of the Manhattan Institute is being «re-launched» as an independent organization, the organization's president E.J. McMahon announced.

Fiscal watchdogs like the Empire Center have disagreed, suggesting cost reductions elsewhere in the budget could shore up the revenue balance.

The number of people who are double dipping — those seeking a waiver that allows them to collect a public pension while also being paid by the state or a local government — has grown by more than 500 people since 2015, according to the fiscal watchdogs at the Empire Center.

Chris Wright, a member of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, the county's fiscal watchdog, called Jacobs his best friend in government and one of the nicest people he knew.

A year before the indictment of top Cumo aides and important Upstate business leaders, leading transparency and fiscal watchdog groups warned that the state's use of a mixture of non-profit groups like Fort Schuyler Management Corporation, SUNY Polytechnic and SUNY Research Foundation to award business subsidy contracts «[b] lurred responsibility and reduced the accountability for decisions worth hundreds of millions of dollars.»