Over the past three years, the state budget has set aside about $1.1 billion into a program to fund local projects across the state. But critics say the program is lacking oversight. Read More
Tag: Transparency
The MTA has now paid the Empire Center's expenses for a successful lawsuit compelling timely release of the agency's payroll data. Read More
More than 2,900 state and local government retirees are receiving pensions larger than $100,000, according to pension data added today to SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s newly relaunched transparency website. Read More
A longtime Saratoga County assistant district attorney who became a central figure in the corruption case against former Halfmoon Supervisor Melinda Wormuth on Tuesday night became the "full-time" town attorney, a job that will pay her $150,000 year. Read More
The New York State Assembly spent $325,404 in taxpayer funds to purchase, maintain and fuel vehicles for use by members and staff during its most recent six-month reporting period, according to expenditure data added today to SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s transparency website. Read More
The state spent $25 million for a shopping mall in Staten Island and $100,000 for a skateboard park in the city of Albany. They were two of the more than 500 pet projects funded with a secret slush fund, according to the Empire Center. The watchdog group said it's like the Oprah syndrome where everyone got a car on the show. Read More
The pork may be returning to the state budget. State lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo quietly have stashed away $1.2 billion for pet projects, and they are starting to spend it: about $187 million for 588 projects across New York, a report from the Empire Center, a watchdog group in Albany found. Read More
State leaders are planning to borrow $5 million to help CBS pay for renovations at the Ed Sullivan Theatre, the home for the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," according to state records. That means state taxpayers are on the hook for $5 million, plus interest. Read More