New York Public Personnel Law: Selected Reports issued by the Office of the State Comptroller during the week ending January 23, 2016

Selected Reports issued by the Office of the State Comptroller during the week ending January 23, 2016

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Non-profit organization executive convicted of theft of public monies

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York City Department of Investigation (NYC DOI) Commissioner Mark Peters announced that Dorothy Ogundu, a nonprofit executive convicted for pocketing taxpayer dollars intended for public services and capital improvements in New York City, was sentenced to one to three years in state prison. A multi-agency investigation, including NYC DOI and two federal agencies, exposed the theft of approximately $300,000 in public funds provided by New York state, the New York City Council, and federal earmark grants. On October 22, 2015, a jury convicted Dorothy Ogundu on 29 counts, including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/jan16/012216.htm?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012216release

Retiree alleged to have fraudulently obtained retirement benefits

Noting that the charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the indictment of Michael J. Vatter, the Chief of the Newburgh Fire Department, charging him with fraudulently obtaining approximately $95,000 in pension benefits by failing to report his return to work in the public sector to the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System. Under New York State law, a public sector retiree who is receiving a pension and who returns to public service cannot receive both pension payments and a public sector paycheck. The law permits public sector retirees to earn up to $30,000 per year from public sector employment before their pension benefits are cut off for that year.

www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/jan16/012016a.htm?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012016arelease

New Tax Cap Calculations

Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 0.12 percent above current levels for the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to data released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The latest calculation affects the tax cap calculations for 677 school districts as well as 10 cities, including the “Big Four” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/jan16/012016.htm?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012016release

Municipal Audits published

Gloversville Housing Authority – Selected Financial Operations

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/publicauth/2016/gloversvillehousing.pdf?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012116release

Mechanicville Housing Authority – Tenant Rents

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/publicauth/2016/mechanicvillehousing.pdf?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012116release

Village of Old Brookville – Cash Receipts

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/villages/2016/oldbrookville.pdf?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012116release

Town of Pamela – Financial Management

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/towns/2016/pamelia.pdf?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012116release

Tompkins County Public Library – Financial Management

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/libraries/2016/tompkinsco.pdf?utm_source=weeklynews20160124&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012116release