State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli - State Can Improve Efforts to Investigate Child Fatalities

New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services, which oversees the locally administered child welfare system that investigates reports of alleged child abuse or child fatalities, can take additional steps to protect children from harm.

According to State Comptroller DiNapoli, “The findings in this audit should be a sobering call to action to ensure New York’s vulnerable children are protected. The Office of Children and Family Services consistently finds flaws in child abuse investigations that preceded a child’s death. It can do more to ensure that local social service providers throughout New York improve operations so they can better respond to abuse complaints and save children’s lives.”  Read more

14 School Districts Designated in Fiscal Stress

State Comptroller DiNapoli's Fiscal Stress Monitoring System (FSMS) provides an early warning to local communities experiencing some fiscal challenges. The alert allows officials to be more proactive in addressing problems before more drastic measures are needed. It also shows policymakers and the public statewide trends over time.

Fourteen school districts statewide were designated in some level of fiscal stress for the school year ending on June 30, 2022, down from 23 districts in fiscal stress the prior year. This is the lowest incidence of fiscal stress recorded for schools since the system’s inception (2012-13 school year). School districts are given a fiscal stress score based on several factors: year-end fund balance, operating deficits and surpluses, cash position, and reliance on short-term debt for cash-flow.

According to State Comptroller DiNapoli, “The number of districts designated in a fiscal stress category has fallen considerably over the past three years. This year there was a particularly steep drop because of significant increases in both federal and State aid. However, the federal aid is temporary so school district officials may face difficult operational and staffing decisions in determining how to best provide services to their students in the future.” Read the report.

The Comptroller’s open data initiative gives the public access to millions of State and local government financial records, as well as State contracts and commonly requested data. Visit Open Book New York to learn more.