Authority Budget Office
skip breadcrumbs| All amounts are in dollars |
| Category | Available 2007-08 |
Appropriations Recommended 2008-09 |
Change From 2007-08 |
Reappropriations Recommended 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 700,000 | 1,500,000 | 800,000 | 0 |
| Total | 700,000 | 1,500,000 | 800,000 | 0 |
| Full-Time Equivalent Positions (FTE) |
| Program | 2007-08 Estimated FTEs 03/31/08 |
2008-09 Estimated FTEs 03/31/09 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authority Budget Office | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/08.
Mission
The Authority Budget Office (ABO) was statutorily created to study, review and report on the practices of State and local public authorities, and to promote the principles of effective corporate governance. Consistent with its mission, the Authority Budget Office:
- Collects, analyzes and makes available to the public information on the finances, structure, and operations of public authorities;
- Assesses the compliance of public authorities with applicable State laws;
- Issues guidance and recommends model practices to assist public authorities adopt and adhere to the principles of accountability, transparency and full financial disclosure; and
- Issues reports on its findings, analysis, recommendations and activities.
Budget Highlights
The Executive Budget recommends $1.5 million ($1.5 million State Operating Funds, no General Fund) to finance the activities and responsibilities of the Authority Budget Office, including review and analysis of the operations, records and structure of public authorities, and assistance to public authorities to facilitate compliance with management and disclosure practices that are consistent with statutorily required principles of good corporate governance. This appropriation will also allow the Authority Budget Office to continue supporting the Public Authorities Reporting Information System (PARIS), the web-based electronic system jointly designed, developed, operated and funded by the Authority Budget Office and the Office of the State Comptroller, and to subsidize the mandatory training of public authority boards of directors.
Major budget actions include:
- Staffing: A separate personal service appropriation is specifically provided to support the cost of conducting compliance reviews, managing and analyzing information reported by public authorities, providing guidance and assistance to public authorities on corporate governance, and issuing public reports on the findings and recommendations of the Office.
- Public Authorities Reporting Information System: PARIS became active on November 15, 2007. From now on, public authorities are to use this system to submit information on annual budgets, independent financial audits, compensation practices, debt issuances, property and procurement transactions, and other information required to be reported by law. Sufficient funding is recommended in this Budget to support PARIS operations and maintenance costs and to enhance its functionality.
- Board Member Training: By law, the members of public authority boards are to participate in State-approved training focused on their fiduciary, ethical, and oversight responsibilities. Over the past two years, more than 1,600 board members and executive staff have attended training provided by the City University of New York (CUNY) and other trainers authorized by the Authority Budget Office. The budget recommends that up to $170,000 be made available to continue providing subsidized training opportunities in 2008-09.
2008-09 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Miscellaneous Agencies (PDF)