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The State’s Office of Mental Health (OMH) needs to do a better job of overseeing court-ordered treatment for individuals under Kendra’s Law to ensure that needed services are delivered in a timely manner, according to an audit by State Comptroller DiNapoli.

“Kendra’s Law was enacted to ensure that those with severe mental illness get treatment to prevent them harming themselves or others,” DiNapoli said. “In many instances, the program is working, but when there are lapses, the consequences can be fatal as our audit shows. OMH should implement our recommendations to improve the administration of Kendra’s Law at a time when we’re facing a serious mental health crisis.”

DiNapoli Op-Ed: We Should Be Teaching Financial Literacy in NY's High Schools

Newsday on Monday published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, which highlighted how teaching students personal finance, budgeting, and investing would better equip them to make important financial decisions in the future that could impact their long-term financial success and quality of life.

State Contract and Payment Actions in December

In December, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 2,332 contracts for State agencies and public authorities valued at $75.6 billion and approved nearly 1.8 million payments worth more than $15.6 billion. The Office rejected 212 contracts and related transactions valued at $15.4 billion and nearly 1,800 payments valued at nearly $12.6 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.

Local Sales Taxes Grew 4.2% to $23 Billion in 2023

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $23 billion in calendar year 2023, up 4.2%, or $919 million, from 2022, largely influenced by growth in New York City sales taxes, according to a report released by State Comptroller DiNapoli.

Former Town Clerk Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nearly $4,000 From Town of Lincoln

State Comptroller DiNapoli, Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese, and the New York State Police announced the plea and sentence of Amy Becker, former Clerk for the Town of Lincoln, for stealing nearly $4,000 from the Town. The plea was the result of a joint investigation between Comptroller DiNapoli’s Office, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York State Police. As part of the plea agreement she paid full restitution in the amount of $3,869.

NY State Comptroller Announces Appointment of Emerging Managers Director

State Comptroller DiNapoli announced the appointment of Sylvester (Sly) McClearn as director of the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s Emerging Manager Program. He was appointed Interim Director of the Program in February 2023.

Municipal & School Audits

• Garrison Union Free School District
• Town of Marion
• Village of Washingtonville
• Willsboro Central School District 

ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

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• Audit Finds Fatal Lapses in Mental Health Program Meant to Curb Violence

• ‘I’ve learned a lot of valuable things’: Akron High School teaches financial literacy
  
  
• NY Comptroller: State child labor investigations lag in NYC as cases pile up
  
  

• Former clerk admits stealing from town

• New York Sales Tax Collections Up, Fueled by Spending in NYC

• N.Y. State Common takes interim tag off emerging managers program director

• NYS Comptroller: Marion Justices lacked oversight in theft of $59k by former clerk

Post of the Week
Tom DiNapoli @NYSComptroller