New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report today saying the former Superintendent and three administrative workers with the Greenburgh-North Castle Union Free School District received questionable payments of more than $100,000 because of lax oversight by the district's board.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli  issued a report today saying an audit of the City of Peekskill's Business Improvement District (BID) found the BID is at risk of "not meeting its goals and properly safeguarding cash due to the lack of a written agreement with the city" and has "an absence of written procedures for financial grant administration."

DiNapoli said "Business Improvement Districts can be tools to help revitalize local economies," adding "But there's a right and wrong way to do this-you can't expect good results if you are not minding the store."

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says his office has completed an audit of the Mount Vernon City School District's internal control over selected operations and found glaring oversights on the part of the District.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced today that his office has completed an audit of the City of Yonkers' budget.

DiNapoli's auditors found that the city's budget was in technical compliance with the Fiscal Agent Act. However, during the review, auditors identified a number of risks with the city's spending plan.

Auditors say the city's 2020-2011 budget relies on non-recurring funding such as the enactment of State legislation that will allow the City  to accrue certain revenue.

Westchester County Legislator John Testa (R-Peekskill) announced today he's introducing legislation in which Westchester would  file  a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Testa was joined at the Cortlandt Train Station this morning by Putnam County Legislature Chairman Vinny Tamagna, saying the so-called "Payroll" or "Mobility" tax is unconstitutional. Tamagna called it ,"Taxation without representation," adding that the MTA doesn't even provide service in Putnam County.

Testa called the MTA Payroll Tax an "egregious tax" that unfairly burdens Westchester County businesses to the point that many are leaving the County. He says he's hopeful his proposal to join forces with Nassau County and sue the MTA over the tax, will receive broad, bi-partisan support on the County Board of Legislators. Said Testa, " At a time where counties such as Westchester are consolidating departments, overtime, pension benefits and health care costs, the MTA has done a poor job of finding ways to cut costs."

Testa cited a recent audit from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli which found overtime rampant in the MTA.  DiNapoli found over 140 MTA employees literally doubled their annual salaries through overtime pay in 2009. And, some 3200 MTA employees received overtime pay  equal to at least half of their annual salary last year. In 77% of the transactions checked, auditors found that the overtime was either unjustified or that no records were kept.

Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz (D-Somers), who chairs the Board of Legislators' Government Operations, Efficiency & Savings Committee, Thursday sent a letter to NYS Senate President Malcolm Smith, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli calling on them to conduct an audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

 Kaplowitz cited a section of the legislation authorizing the so-called MTA Mobility Tax which permits the Senate President Pro Tem and speaker of the Assembly to conduct an independent audit of the MTA.

Republicans now have a candidate for NY State Comptroller. 38 year old Harry Wilson of Scarsdale made it official yesterday announcing his bid to run for the post currently held by Democrat Thomas DiNapoli. Wilson has written letters to Republican Party Chairmen throughout the state announcing his intentions and has received the backing of GOP Chairmen from Westchester, Rockland and Fulton County, where Wilson was born. Wilson has worked at a number of financial firms on Wall Street, including Goldman Sachs. He says his financial roles with those companies gave him the skills necessary for the job. Another Republican whose name has been mentioned for State Comptroller is Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef. Last month, Vanderhoef said he will "Keep his options open," but he has not yet announced plans to run.