New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today announced that his office collected more than $1 million – for the fifth year in a row – from individuals and firms that damaged City property.

“If someone destroys or damages City property, that person should have to pay up, so that all taxpayers don’t have to foot the bill,” Thompson said. “My office pursues affirmative claims because of damage to City property and seeks to recover costs on behalf of the City.”

Shortly after Thompson took office in 2002, he started an Affirmative Claims Unit and hired a Director of Affirmative Claims, who coordinates activities with various City agencies. Previously, the Comptroller’s Office had pursued only a small number of cases.

In Fiscal Year 2002, the Comptroller’s Office settled 149 such claims for $523,768. The following year, the number of settled affirmative claims rose to 228, totalling $568,959. From Fiscal Year 2004 forward, the unit brought in more than $1 million annually.

For Fiscal Year 2008, which just concluded on June 30, the unit resolved 504 claims, yielding $1,217,177.

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