Advancing Financial Literacy
State Comptroller DiNapoli is a strong advocate for including a personal finance class as a requirement for high school graduation. The Comptroller’s office has met with the State Department of Education and school superintendents to discuss this proposal. This week, the Blue Ribbon Commission made up of educators and school superintendents, among others, recommended to the Board of Regents that financial literacy be part of a high school diploma’s credit requirements. Twenty states have already incorporated financial literacy into their schools, and in an op-ed State Comptroller DiNapoli explains why New York should follow suit.
State Comptroller DiNapoli joined supporters of Israel Bonds at a luncheon in Manhattan to help send the message that Israel, and its future, remain strong. In recent weeks the State pension fund has purchased $70 million in Israel Bonds, joining several other states that have made purchases. |
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State Comptroller DiNapoli addressed members of Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees (AME) at their 2023 Convention. “Congratulations to President Daniel Levler for putting together a great team for this event, including Debbie Riggio-Smith (left), convention committee chair,” said DiNapoli. Suffolk AME is Suffolk County’s largest public-sector union with 6,000 active and 4,000 retired workers. |
State Comptroller DiNapoli participated in New America Alliance’s (NAA) Fall Symposium with former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson Jr. (right). NAA is a nonprofit that works to advance the economic development of the American Latino Community. “Smart investors know that Emerging Managers and MWBE Managers add value to their portfolios. That’s why we prioritize them at the NYS Pension Fund,” said DiNapoli. |
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State Pension Fund Valued at $246.3 Billion at End of Second Quarter
State Comptroller DiNapoli announced that the estimated value of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) was $246.3 billion at the end of the second quarter of State Fiscal Year 2023-24. For the three-month period ending Sept. 30, 2023, Fund investments returned an estimated -1.59%.
Local Sales Tax Collections Up 2.5% in October Compared to Last Year
Local sales tax collections in New York State increased by 2.5% in October compared to the same month in 2022, according to an analysis released by State Comptroller DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled nearly $1.8 billion, up $43.5 million compared to the same time last year.
Georgia Woman Sentenced to Over a Year in Prison and Ordered to Pay $459K in Full Restitution for Stealing NYS Pension and Social Security Payments
A 50-year-old Georgia woman, Sandra Smith, was sentenced to over a year in federal prison and ordered to pay full restitution after admitting she stole $459,050 in New York State pension and federal social security payments from her deceased mother-in-law’s bank account, State Comptroller DiNapoli, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan K. Buchanan, and Inspector General for the Social Security Administration Gail S. Ennis announced.
State Contract and Payment Actions in September
In September, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,803 contracts for State agencies and public authorities valued at $3.4 billion and approved more than 2.1 million payments worth nearly $15 billion. The office rejected 150 contracts and related transactions valued at $311 million and nearly 3,100 payments valued at more than $13 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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