Since 2021, we’ve been hearing about Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), a program designed to help communities address vulnerabilities to natural hazards and disasters attributed to climate change. Eligible communities in New York may benefit from the program starting later this year.

From February to April of 2023, states, eligible federally recognized tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia were invited to apply for the program. In September 2023, FEMA announced eight states will receive grants in the amount of $50 million combined to help communities address vulnerabilities to natural hazards and disasters. New York is slated to receive just over $6.2 million (it had requested just over $15 million).

As explained on the FEMA website, “Local governments may use capitalization grant funding through low-interest loans to make structures more resilient to natural hazards.” The website also notes funds can be applied to satisfy cost-share requirements for FEMA hazard mitigation (HM) assistance grants and will serve as a sustainable financing source because, as loans are paid back, funding can finance additional projects. The program promotes funding to disadvantaged communities, which should be slated to receive at least 40% of revolving fund loans.

New York’s Intended Use Plan, developed as part of its application for the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF, provides more details and insights into how the program may work in our state. Here are a few highlights:

…“The state will use these capitalization grants to establish a revolving loan fund from which direct loans will be provided to local governments for projects and activities that mitigate the impacts of drought, intense heat, severe storms (including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, cyclones, and severe winter storms), wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and other natural hazards.”

…“DHSES (a.k.a. NY Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services) will administer the HM RLF to support various hazard mitigation activities that address natural hazards such as severe storms and wind events, and flooding. Flooding includes highwater levels, inland flooding, and storm surges. Loan applications will also be evaluated against the NY State Hazard Mitigation Plan.”

….“Standard loans will be issued with an interest rate of 1.0 percent. Loan term will be 20 year or less following completion of the funded project. Loans for low-income geographic areas or underserved communities will be issued with an interest rate of 1.0 percent. Loan term will be 30 year or less following completion of the funded project.”

…“The loan application and instructions will be posted to the DHSES website and will follow a similar process to an existing revolving loan program that DHSES currently administers.”

…“DHSES anticipates disbursing funds within 9 months of receiving funding from FEMA by working closely with all applicants.”  So, we’ll likely be hearing something by mid-year.

There’s more. At year-end 2023, the 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) was announced, tripling the total amount of grants available to $150 million. The application period is open and will close on April 30, and New York is eligible to apply, which is likely according to the 2023 IUP.

For now, your municipality may want to keep all of this in mind as it develops local plans to address infrastructure vulnerabilities due to severe weather events and climate change. We will keep an eye out for more information for you.

In the meantime, if you need any accounting, tax, audit, or advisory support, please know RBT CPAs is here for you. We’ve been proudly serving municipalities, businesses, non-profits, and individuals in the Hudson Valley for over 50 years. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call and find out how we can be Remarkably Better Together.

RBT CPAs is proud to say 100% of its work is prepared in America. Our company does not offshore work, so you always know who is handling your confidential financial data.

It has been almost a year and a half since GASB 101 on compensated absences was issued to  standardize how compensated absences are recognized, measured and disclosed. It takes effect for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, although earlier application was encouraged. As a result of the Statement, governments will provide more consistent and comparable information about compensated absences. Here are the highlights….

Who does this impact?

All units of state and local government.

What is required?

A compensated absence liability is recognized for an unused leave attributable to services rendered if it accumulates; carries forward to a future reporting period; and is more likely than not to be used for time-off or paid for via cash or other means based on relevant factors like policies and historical information.

A liability is also recognized for a used leave that has not been paid for in cash or other means; in this case, the liability equals the amount of the cash or noncash settlement.

Measurement is based on an employee’s pay rate in effect on the financial reporting date, unless a compensated absence arrangement calls for a different rate at the time of payment (i.e., sick pay based on 50% of the employee’s pay rate). Salary-related payments – including the employer’s share of payroll related taxes, defined pension contributions and other post-employment benefit plans – are to be included as part of the compensated absence liability calculation.

Certain compensated absences like parental, military, and jury duty leave should be recognized as a liability when the leave starts. For other types, like paid time off, liability is recognized when the leave is used.

Also, certain financial disclosure requirements are changing. The funds that governments use to liquidate the liability for compensated absences do not have to be disclosed. Governments will now be allowed to disclose only the net change in the liability instead of the gross increases and decreases (as long as they identify it as a net change). Plus, financial statements must note consideration of Statement 101 and the adoption date.

When does it take effect?

Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. So, if your municipality’s fiscal year ends this December 31, Statement 101 begins to apply starting January 1, 2024.

Why was the statement issued?

Per GASB.org, Statement 101 was issued “to better meet the information needs of financial statement users by updating the recognition and measurement guidance for compensated absences. That objective is achieved by aligning the recognition and measurement guidance under a unified model and by amending certain previously required disclosures.”

How to promote compliance.

Each government entity should consider which benefits are affected; how its accounting system will gather necessary information and perform calculations; whether internal control processes need to change; how accounting entries for compensated absences will be documented; and the impact on its financial statement.

If you need advice or assistance with your GASB 101 implementation or any other accounting, tax, and audit needs, please remember RBT CPAs is here to help. Give us a call to learn what we can do for you.

RBT CPAs is proud to say 100% of its work is prepared in America. Our company does not offshore work, so you always know who is handling your confidential financial data.

If your municipality wants priority consideration for a number of New York State discretionary funds, it has to obtain Pro-Housing Community Certification.

Although attempts to gain support of affordable housing initiatives in New York faltered earlier this year, Governor Hochul remains committed to boosting affordable housing by 800,000 units within a decade. On August 31, the Pro-Housing Communities Program opened for business, providing financial incentives for municipalities to get on board with affordable housing growth. Municipalities that either meet affordable housing growth metrics or commit to the program’s principles will be rewarded by earning priority consideration for more than $650 million in state discretionary funds.

The press release announcing the program notes, “Certified Pro-Housing Communities will be considered first among localities applying for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI); NY Forward program;  Regional Council Capital Fund; capital projects from the Market New York program; New York Main Street program; Long Island Investment Fund (LIIF); Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund;  Public Transportation Modernization Enhancement Program (MEP); and any other funding where future appropriation language designates it as a Pro-Housing Community program.”

To apply for Pro-Housing Community Certification, an authorized official must email a letter of intent. Then, applicants must provide information on local zoning codes and housing permit approvals in the past five years in the templates provided. A municipality must show approval of permits increasing housing stock by 1% (downstate) or 0.33% (upstate) over the past year or permits increasing housing stock by 3% (downstate) or 1% (upstate) over the past 3 years. Within 90 days, the municipality will receive a decision about certification.

If your municipality hasn’t met housing growth requirements, it can still obtain certification by passing a defined Pro-Housing Resolution.

By March 31, of each year, localities must resubmit any zoning updates and housing permit data to remain certified. For the application and complete program details, click here.

This is just one of a number of executive actions the Governor is taking to address New York’s housing crisis. Additional actions include a program to advance residential projects halted by the expiration of 421-A in Gowanus; a requirement that state entities ID state-owned lands that may support housing; and a portal collecting and sharing community housing and zoning data.

In our neck of the woods, this summer, the City of Kingston bolstered its efforts related to affordable housing development by adopting a new form-based zoning code designed to make it easier for development to occur and establishing a Department of Housing Initiatives to support the City’s housing planning.

If you’re interested in learning more about how the lack of affordable housing impacts New York and its residents (or former residents), check out these articles from Pew Research and The Fiscal Policy Institute.

To free you up to focus on this, please know RBT CPAs is here to support all of your tax, audit, and advisory needs. Give us a call to learn how we can work together to promote your business success.

RBT CPAs is proud to say all our work is prepared in the U.S.A. – we never offshore. As a result, you get peace of mind that your operation’s financial and confidential information is handled by full-time, local staff who have met our high standards for quality, ethics, and professionalism.

Tax revenues are slowing. Spending is up.

Talk of an economic downturn continues, with a lot of speculation about when, how intense, and how long. What does all of this mean? Let’s take a look.

Starting with the NY State Budget

In May, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an Enacted Budget Report for FY 2023-2024. Spending is increasing by 3%. Much of the increase represents recurring expenses (i.e., full funding of school Foundation Aid, mental health service investments, and increased funding for health care and human services workers). There’s also temporary budget increases for emergency rental assistance and the MTA.

While the state’s reserve funds of $6.26 billion will help, there could be challenges ahead due to the new recurring costs occurring at the same time Federal Covid aid ends and a possible economic downturn. To address a budget gap, tax increases and/or spending cuts may need to be on the agenda for future budget discussions.

Turning to Tax Revenues

For state fiscal year (SFY) 2022-2023, New York’s tax revenue was $2.9 billion more than expected, but $9.5 billion or 7.8% less than the prior year largely due to a decrease in personal income tax revenue.  For SFY 2023-2024, revenues are projected to decrease for the second year in a row by 3.9%, as temporary federal aid is depleted and tax collections decline.

While personal income tax revenues are down, sales revenues are up but slowing. In the first quarter of 2023, sales revenues increased 7.1% over the same period in 2022, but slowed as the quarter progressed (from 9.2% in January to .03% in March).

By May, state sales tax collections increased 1.1% over the prior year, making it the third consecutive month where growth was lower than 2%, which can make it tougher to maintain fiscal balance, especially since much of the increase was from NYC collections (in fact, 47 out of 57 counties experienced a decline). Click here to see Monthly Local Sales Tax Collections by County and Region.

Unemployment

New York’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.1% to 3.9% from May of 2022 through May of 2023, with a steady decrease from March through May of 2023. The state’s labor force grew from 9,633,295 in May of 2022 to 9,703,853 in May of 2023, which includes steady growth continuing March through May of 2023. This positive momentum echoes what is happening nationally. According to CNN.com, “Morgan Stanley seems to agree, telling clients that the May jobs report ‘continues to point to a soft landing for the economy,’ a Fed term for raising rates without triggering a recession.”

Inflation

As reported by CNBC.com, “Inflation slowed in May to the lowest rate in two years (4%), largely due to  declining energy (i.e., gas and electricity) prices, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Still, household budget items are up and there may be more inflationary pressure with more infrastructure projects getting underway.

Interest Rates

According to TheAscent.com, between May of 2022 and May of 2023, Federal Reserve interest rates increased from .75% – 1% to 5% – 5.25%. In other words, it’s more expensive to borrow money. The hope is periodic increases will help cool down inflation rather than lead us into a recession.

Recession?

On June 8, RSM reported, “We estimate a 75% probability of an economic downturn over the next 12 months. While that is significant, it also implies a 25% chance of a soft landing for the economy.”

Credit Rating

As shared on PIMCO.com, credit rating downgrades aren’t expected, but upgrades may slow down: “In the first quarter of 2023, Moody’s upgraded three times as many U.S. public finance credits than it downgraded… Local governments have seen similar upgrade momentum, even in cities like New York and Chicago that have projected budget deficits. Many have used unprecedented federal fiscal relief and better-than-expected tax collections to boost their reserves, and will likely benefit from the relative stability of property tax revenues.”

What Next?

For a while now, NY State Comptroller DiNapoli has regularly repeated the same message: “Being prepared for a slowdown is especially important in this uncertain economy.” If you agree and are looking for next steps, the Academy for New York State’s Local Officials is offering an upcoming webinar entitled “Multiyear Financial Planning” on July 19. It’s designed to “help local governments create an effective multiyear financial planning process that helps identify and manage potential fiscal difficulties before crises emerge.” The webinar discussion will include making good long-term revenue and expenditure projections; measuring benefits from proposed local actions; and documenting projections. Click here to register. 

While you’re focusing on staying up to speed on all of the factors impacting your municipality’s finances, you can trust RBT CPAs professionals to hand your accounting, tax, audit, and advisory service needs. RBT CPAs is here to help you succeed — give us a call.

RBT CPAs is proud to say all of its work is prepared in the U.S.A.  We never outsource outside the U.S.A.

As the six-month anniversary of the passing of New York’s Environmental Bond Act approaches, two questions come to mind: “How much progress has been made?” and “What’s next?”

In November of 2022, the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act was overwhelmingly approved by New York voters to promote water quality, reduce pollution, and protect natural resources and communities from the effects of climate change. The Act will give state agencies and local governments access to funding, while providing leverage to take advantage of other state and Federal funding sources as well. The state has committed to ensuring at least 35% of funds – with a goal of 40% — go to disadvantaged communities.

According to GothamGazette (Geringer-Sameth, Ethan. February 13, 2023): “State officials expect to issue the first bonds under the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins April 1.” Between April of 2023 and March of 2024, $100 million is expected to be financed. Still, spending oversight, administration, staffing, and infrastructure are in development.

To get the ball rolling, the Hochul administration charged the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with leading a group of eight state agencies to set the criteria and guidelines for funding. The agencies involved include the DEC, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Environmental Facilities Corporation; Department of Agriculture and Markets; Department of Transportation; Department of State; Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; Adirondack Park Agency; Office of General Services; and Homes and Community Renewals.

According to NY.gov’s webpage on the act, “Governor Hochul directed an inter-agency working group to begin identifying needs for environmental funding across the State. The group will develop program logistics, including how projects will be selected and how funds will be delivered, through a transparent and collaborative process.” Next, the state will embark on an Educational Listening Tour to discuss what the Bond Act will fund and get input on criteria for potential projects.

It looks like progress is already underway for clean water infrastructure projects, which can leverage the infrastructure already set up for Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Grants (IMG) programs. On March 15, the Environmental Facilities Corporation announced proposed eligibility guidelines and is inviting public comment through 5 p.m. on April 14 (submit written comments to Máire Cunningham at NYSWaterGrants@efc.ny.gov or 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207).

No doubt, more information will be forthcoming soon. While your municipality prepares to help your community maximize these and Federal funds, RBT CPAs is here to partner with you on your accounting, tax, audit and advisory service needs. We’re one of the leading accounting firms in the Hudson Valley and we believe we succeed when we help you succeed. To learn more, give us a call.