At the same time, DiNapoli said the budget proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to rely heavily and expand
on lump sum appropriations for projects that are yet to be determined, a move that is at odds with the Budget Reform Act of 2007, which was designed to increase transparency in the process.
The use of
lump sum appropriations for executive and legislative initiatives «raises issues of transparency and accountability,» DiNapoli said.
Eliminating
discretionary lump sum appropriations, through which the state spends billions of dollars with little, if any, justification for how projects were selected to receive funding or explanation of how the funding will be used, is another proposal the comptroller is supporting.
Among the
largest lump sum appropriations are to the Empire State Development Corporation, which passes lump sum state funds to state controlled non-profit organizations like the SUNY Research Foundation, Fort Schuyler Management Corporation, and Fuller Road Management Corporation.
His plan would
ban lump sum appropriations, create a council to plan capital spending, and require economic development program proposals to be scored and ranked in a public database.
Further, the organization calls for amending state finance law to introduce accountability and conflict - of - interest identification to public contracting, the disclosure of grants and contracts «awarded under
nonspecific lump sum appropriations and reappropriations,» and for «aging the budget bills for three days.»
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said the state needs more accountability when giving out economic development funds, noting this year's budget again relies heavily
on lump sum appropriations that have little oversight regarding their allocation.
DiNapoli's plan calls on the state to bring more transparency and accountability to state finances by eliminating
discretionary lump sum appropriations, restricting «backdoor spending» by public authorities, requiring more disclosure of public authorities» spending and financing, and making the state budget more understandable and accessible.
Aside from general criticism of the process itself, there are the issues of the
large lump sum appropriations, projects funded by mysterious sources, and the governor faulty marketing of his budgetary discipline.
Speaking at a press conference in Syracuse today, DiNapoli said this year's state budget featured a heavy reliance on
lump sum appropriations.
With this money, school districts receive
a lump sum appropriation, which leaves taxpayers with no assurance that this money will be used for its intended purposes - classroom instruction.