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| THOMPSON CALLS ON WATER BOARD TO HELP EASE BURDEN ON NEW YORKERS
Concerned about steeper water bills on the horizon, City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. notified the New York City Water Board of steps to create a fairer structure for New Yorkers to pay water bills.
Thompson commended the board for attempting to address the inequity of having water and sewer ratepayers’ payments cover excessive rent to the City, which results in a growing subsidy to the City’s general fund. But, in a letter to the board, he said:
“Unfortunately, the Water Authority has shown little interest in addressing this inappropriate cross-subsidy despite your advocacy. This is discouraging but I believe that you are in a position to ensure that this issue is given the attention it deserves, especially in the face of what we expect will be continued double-digit rate increases for fiscal year 2009 and beyond.”
In the letter – available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov – Thompson asked the board to consider:
- Requiring that the Authority’s rate increase request for the coming fiscal year 2009 delineate the amount of excess rent and identify the savings to ratepayers if this rent were to be rebated and applied to reduce capital borrowing and/or subsequent years’ costs.
- Independently examining the long-term financial viability of the system’s current funding structure given the system’s growing capital obligations. This should include a review of which items of infrastructure are being funded by water ratepayers and what can be done to bring down the system’s capital costs.
- Engaging its own attorney to explore legal options (as provided for in the lease agreement), if the City continues to be unwilling to negotiate a more equitable treatment of ratepayers.
“It is my hope that you will begin to address these issues…as the rate-setting process moves forward,” he wrote. “New York City’s water and sewer ratepayers will welcome your advocacy in seeking a fair method of financing this critical resource.”
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| THOMPSON FIGHTS FOR SENIOR SERVICES AND CENTERS
Twice in recent weeks, City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. joined throngs of senior citizens and advocates on the steps of City Hall to call on the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) to reevaluate plans to revise service delivery to seniors and ensure that senior centers are not closed under any reorganization.
“City Hall is pushing ahead with a fundamental restructuring of sensitive services that will have ramifications far beyond when the Mayor has left office,” Thompson said. “Regretfully, it appears that these new initiatives are scheduled to be launched after a rather perfunctory public comment period and on the advice of a very limited number of stakeholders.”
After Thompson and advocates pressured City Hall, the administration on April 9 announced that it would significantly change its plan to revise senior services, including a delay in issuing a Request for Proposals.
The Comptroller responded that: “This announcement is good news for the City’s aging population. I thank the Mayor for acknowledging feedback from the community, from my office, and from others across this city who felt passionately about this fundamental restructuring. This postponement will allow the City to bring more people to the table and to develop a more thorough plan, consider additional partnerships, and reduce the burden on the community-based providers.”
You can read more about Thompson’s views on the proposal – including his detailed letter to DFTA – at www.comptroller.nyc.gov. Said Thompson: “These issues demand our utmost attention and concern.”
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THOMPSON CALLS FOR REFORMS IN CITY’S BUDGETING PROCESS
Comptroller Thompson recently announced several actions requested or taken by his office to increase transparency and accountability in the City’s budgeting process.
In a letter to the City Council Speaker, Thompson said pointed out that recent concerns of abuse of discretionary funding requires his office to strengthen its oversight.
The Comptroller noted that his office will now require all agency agreements that are funded by City Council discretionary monies, regardless of amount, be reviewed by the Comptroller’s office before any funds can be disbursed.
Second, the Comptroller’s Office will direct the City’s auditors, Deloitte and Touche, to independently audit the Council’s discretionary fund budget process upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations by two investigative entities.
Additionally, Thompson strongly urged the City to create a specific budget category for all discretionary funds identified by the City Council. The Council’s Schedule C, which itemizes all organizations and programs that the Council is funding, should also be made publicly available prior to the adoption of the City’s budget, he said.
The Comptroller also requested that any shifts in funding during budget modifications should specifically describe discretionary funded items.
Said Thompson: “It is my expectation that the current investigation of this matter, combined with the budget actions I am enacting and recommending, will strengthen budget transparency and help restore trust and confidence to our City’s residents.”
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