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New Law Restores Oversight Authority of
the State Comptroller’s Office
For more than 100 years, the State Comptroller's office has reviewed and approved contracts to ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected. A decade ago, important aspects of this oversight were removed for certain contracts within the Office of General Services, the State University of New York and the City University of New York, which collectively spend billions of dollars each year. After fighting to regain this critical oversight, State Comptroller DiNapoli is proud to report that a new law restores the office's contract review authority.
By reviewing contracts before they are awarded, the Comptroller’s office helps ensure the integrity of the procurement process and protects taxpayers, agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations and other vendors by uncovering significant fiscal and integrity issues.
“This is a win for taxpayers, transparency and good government,” DiNapoli said.
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Spend Your Holiday Gift Cards
In 2022, $48 million dollars worth of unused gift card balances were turned over to Comptroller DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds. In total, DiNapoli’s office is currently holding more than $17.5 billion in unclaimed funds. He urges New Yorkers to visit https://ouf.osc.state.ny.us/ouf to see if they are owed money and recommends they register any gift cards they may have received this holiday season with the retailer.
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On the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, New York State Comptroller DiNapoli announced the filing of shareholder proposals that call on seven corporations in the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s portfolio to disclose their direct and indirect spending on political causes and on two others to adopt a new policy before contributing to the political activities of third-party organizations.
State Comptroller DiNapoli said, “We must never minimize or become complacent about what happened on January 6. The attack on our Capitol was a fanatical attempt to prevent the orderly transition of power. It threatened the heart of our democracy, free and fair elections. Let us remember those who put their lives on the line that day defending our Capitol and work to ensure our democracy is protected against threats in the future.”
State Comptroller DiNapoli, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the United States Postal Inspection Service announced the arrest of Gennady Galker for allegedly stealing checks from Brooklynites and using a stolen identity to further his scheme. Galker is accused of thefts totaling $31,149, including a $1,148 check from DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, and various checks from the Jewish Communal Fund intended for area charities.
In November, the Office of State Comptroller DiNapoli approved 1,514 contracts for State agencies and public authorities valued at $1.8 billion and approved nearly 2 million payments worth more than $11.1 billion. The office rejected 135 contracts and related transactions valued at $286 million and nearly 1,600 payments valued at nearly $19.5 million, primarily for mistakes, insufficient support for charges and improper payments. More information on these contracts and payments is available at Open Book New York.
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