Last updated on April 8th, 2026Annual Financial Reports (AFRs) are essential for maintaining transparency, accountability, and financial health in local governments. Municipalities are legally required to file their AFRs with the State Comptroller’s Office within 60-120 days after the close of the fiscal year. And yet, a growing number of

Last updated on March 10th, 2026Created under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program allocated $350 billion in federal aid to state, local, and tribal governments to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. With the performance

Looking for a CPA firm to perform your audit? As part of the request for proposal process, you can request a copy of a CPA firm’s most recent peer review report. It’s important to know how to read these reports so that you can be sure you’re hiring the best

The “No Tax on Overtime” rule, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July, has created a temporary federal income tax deduction for qualified overtime pay. The deduction—which applies retroactively to overtime pay earned beginning January 1, 2025, and extends through December 31, 2028—imposes new reporting and

Over the last several years, New York has launched multiple initiatives to address the issue of lead-contaminated drinking water. Among these are state-funded programs supporting the replacement of lead service lines. Read on for more information about the New York State Lead Service Line Replacement Plan, as well as other

We’ve all seen the cases on the news—another local government falls victim to fraud. Incidents of corruption in local municipalities—many involving the theft of staggering amounts of public funds—occur far too often for comfort. Fraud can take place even when an organization undergoes annual audits and implements preventive policies. So,

On July 31, Governor Hochul announced that over $21 million is now available for zero-emission mobility transportation solutions throughout the New York State. Local governments can submit proposals for demonstration projects aimed at developing and improving clean mobility options, with priority given to disadvantaged communities. The Climate Justice Working Group

Members of the governing board are responsible for developing and overseeing the municipality’s fiscal policies and operations. This article provides an overview of the fiscal responsibilities of board members, as outlined in the Local Government Management Guide by the Office of the New York State Comptroller. Developing Fiscal Policies Board