Authority Budget Office

Note: Most recent estimates as of 12/16/08.

Mission

The Authority Budget Office (ABO) was statutorily created to study, review and report on 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 practices of public authorities and their compliance 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 $1.326 million ($1.326 million State Operating Funds, no General Fund) to finance the activities and responsibilities of the Authority Budget Office, including the review and analysis of the operations, records and structure of public authorities, and assistance to public authorities to facilitate compliance with management and financial reporting 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, the electronic data collection system jointly designed, developed, and maintained by the Authority Budget Office and the Office of the State Comptroller, and to provide the mandatory training of public authority boards of directors at no cost to the authorities. This recommended funding represents a decrease of $174,000 from the 2008-09 budget. These savings result primarily from the end of initial development work on the Public Authorities Reporting Information System. Major budget actions include:

• Staffing: A separate personal service appropriation is specifically provided to support the cost of conducting compliance and operational 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): Public authorities use PARIS to submit information on annual budgets, independent financial statement audits, compensation practices, debt issuances, property and procurement transactions, and other information required to be reported by law. PARIS was first implemented in November 2007, and additional enhancements were made in 2008. Budget recommendations reflect a shift from funding systems development costs to supporting the ongoing operations and maintenance of PARIS.

• 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 three years, more than 1,800 board members, executive staff and other individuals 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 $125,000 be made available to continue providing subsidized training opportunities in 2009-10.

2009-10 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Miscellaneous Agencies (PDF)