State Comptroller visits TRC
From left, Denise Jones, TRC’s Chief Operating Officer; Executive Director Paul Cesana; and Tom DiNapoli listen as Gregg Bender, Director of Business Operations, describes some of the products TRC manufactures for the federal government.
The Resource Center played host to the highest-ranking State official to visit the agency in 25 years when New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli came to Chautauqua County recently.
DiNapoli spoke to about 200 people February 24 inside the Conference Center at TRC’s Administrative Offices on Dunham Avenue in Celoron. His appearance was one of a number of community forums he is holding across the State to share insights about the operations of the Comptroller’s Office and to emphasize the important role played by not-for-profit agencies such as TRC.
DiNapoli began his speech by joking about the unusual winter being experienced by East Coast residents. “The world is upside down. At my house on Long Island, we have more snow than you do here.”
Tom DiNapoli holds the painting presented to the Comptroller's Office by TRC. Flanking Mr. DiNapoli are Executive Director Paul Cesana and Stacy Langheinrich, who created the painting (titled "American Indian Snow Mountain").
He explained that in his role as Comptroller, he is the State’s chief fiscal officer and watchdog. His office monitors how the current fiscal year is going and comments on the coming year’s spending plan. He added that he is committed to sharing information with New Yorkers so that they can have the information they need to take part in the practice of deciding how State will operate.
“Our democracy only works if you have the information. It’s not enough that the Comptroller’s Office gives information to legislators and the Governor,” DiNapoli said. “You can be empowered in that process of making choices, especially in this tough and challenging time.”
He noted that the State’s ongoing fiscal problems can be directly tied to Wall Street. “We’re having to deal with the legacy of some poor choices that were made.” He explained that prior to the recession, Wall Street accounted for about 20 percent of the State’s revenues; now that figure is about 15 percent. DiNapoli said Wall Street is beginning to show signs of recovery, but this is “not going to solve our problems in the short run.”
The loss in Wall Street revenues made putting together the current year’s State budget a challenge, and DiNapoli faulted lawmakers for approving a spending plan based on “overly optimistic revenue projections.” He said it is better to develop a realistic budget at the outset so that agencies and school districts can plan accurately.
“If we get the numbers right at the beginning, even if they’re tough numbers, it’s better for all concerned … to know that the budget you get in April is going to hold for the rest of the year.” Instead, three months into the current fiscal year, the State was proposing mid-year cuts. “This creates a crisis-management mode and brings Albany’s troubles to the local level.”
DiNapoli said the State is facing an $8.2 billion budget shortfall for the 2010-11 fiscal year. He added that even if all of Governor David Paterson’s spending cuts are adopted as proposed, the State is projected to see a $29 billion gap during the next four years.
“We are in the throes of the budget process and still in the grips of this recession,” DiNapoli pointed out. “It’s a perfect storm as the recession has had a great impact on New York State.”
Though his office does not set policy, the focus of his speech centered around budget cuts and the State’s economic woes, and the impact they will have on not-for-profit organizations.
“Are we going through a crisis? Absolutely,” he said. “You as a group are on the receiving end of Albany’s problems, and your sector needs to be considered. We cannot transfer our problems to the local level.”
DiNapoli said not-for-profits are feeling the brunt of the State’s fiscal woes. “I’m sure most of you are having trouble fund raising.” He said as the State’s revenues have decreased, not-for-profits have seen an increased demand for services because there are more people in need.
He said that compounding the problems faced by not-for-profits is the failure by many State agencies to approve or renew contracts in a timely manner, thus delaying payments to organizations providing services. He said research conducted by his office showed that 87 percent of all State contracts worth more than $50,000 are not received on time, and that $2.7 billion in contracts are approved six months late on average.
“We need to strengthen and improve the way State agencies comply with payment and contract approval,” he said. “Contract approval has reached unacceptable levels of lateness. It’s unfair to you and the people you serve and rely on your services.”
He said one way to rectify this situation is to enforce a provision that entitles not-for-profits to receive interest payments when the State is late in its payments.
Tom DiNapoli answers a question from Greg Peterson, who served as moderator for the Comptroller’s appearance.
DiNapoli highlighted the crucial role played by not-for-profits. “You provide critical pathways for people to employment, for people to live with greater independence in our community.”
He noted the economic importance of New York State’s 24,000 not-for-profit organizations as well, saying they employ 17 percent of the State’s work force. In particular, he pointed out that TRC provides jobs to 1,800 people, had a payroll of $32 million in 2009 and has a local economic impact of $150 million.
Following his speech, DiNapoli sat down for a question-and-answer session moderated my local attorney Greg Peterson, who is the President of the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown and a member of TRC Foundation’s Board of Directors. DiNapoli took prepared questions from the audience about a number of topics.
Accompanying the Comptroller were representatives from his Office of Unclaimed Funds. DiNapoli encouraged attendees to inquire whether the State has any money that may belong to them. He then proved it could be a real possibility as he surprised Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. and Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro with checks from the pool of unclaimed funds.
DiNapoli’s appearance was sponsored by The Resource Center, TRC Foundation, Chautauqua Opportunities, the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, and the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce.
After his speech, the Comptroller traveled to the Michael J. Raymond Center for a tour of some of TRC’s operations. Upon his arrival Stacy Langheinrich, who participates in the “Alternatives” Day Habilitation Program, presented DiNapoli with a painting she created. The Comptroller and his aides then toured the Day Hab Program and the Jamestown Work Center, where they saw firsthand some of the work TRC performs for the federal government, particularly the Department of Defense.
“Some of these products assembled here are going to actually save the lives of the men and women who are protecting us. It really underscores how important the work being done here is,” DiNapoli said. “I’ve heard so much about The Resource Center, but it’s different when you see it up close. I really was impressed and overwhelmed by what I saw here. This is an agency that is going to be around for a very long time to serve the people of the community.”
TRC officials were thrilled to have the opportunity to host DiNapoli.
“We are delighted Tom had the chance to see what we do and what happens here in our organization,” said Executive Director Paul Cesana. “We are proud of what we do. The people that come in and take advantage of these services are the people that we’re all about. It really makes a difference in terms of their lives, having a job, like any one of us expects from life.”
The Comptroller is the highest-ranking State official to visit TRC since then-Governor Mario Cuomo toured the agency in 1985.
Posing together at the end of the Work Center tour are, from left, Executive Director Paul Cesana; Greg Peterson, a member of TRC Foundation's Board of Directors; Gregg Bender, Director of Business Operations; Denise Jones, Chief Operating Officer; Dr. Harry Glatz, a member of The Resource Center's Board; State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; Dr. Todd Jacobson, Vice President of The Resource Center's Board; Angela Dixon, Deputy Comptroller for Human Resources and Administration; and Elliot Pagliaccio, Assistant Comptroller for Strategic Planning and Program Effectiveness.
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