New York State Comptroller

Last updated
New York State Comptroller
Seal of New York (state).svg
Seal of the State of New York
Flag of New York.svg
Flag of the State of New York
TPD's Headshot (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Thomas DiNapoli
since February 7, 2007
Department of Audit and Control [1]
Style
Term length Four years
Constituting instrument New York Constitution, Executive Law
Formation1797
First holder Samuel Jones
Salary$210,000 (2019)
Website Official website

The New York state comptroller is an elected constitutional officer of the U.S. state of New York and head of the New York state government's Department of Audit and Control. [2] Sixty-one individuals have held the office of State Comptroller since statehood. The incumbent is Thomas DiNapoli, a Democrat.

Contents

Powers and duties

Loan for Highway Improvement, issued by the Comptroller's Office of the State of New York at the 25. March 1918. State of New York 1918.jpg
Loan for Highway Improvement, issued by the Comptroller's Office of the State of New York at the 25. March 1918.

The state comptroller is in effect New York's chief fiscal officer. Article V, Section 1, of the New York Constitution requires the state comptroller "to audit all vouchers before payment and all official accounts", "to audit the accrual and collection of all revenues and receipts", and "to prescribe such methods of accounting as are necessary for the performance of the foregoing duties". Furthermore, the State Constitution vests the safekeeping and protection of all state funds in the state comptroller, stating: "[t]he payment of any money of the state, or of any money under its control, or the refund of any money paid to the state, except upon audit by the comptroller, shall be void..." [3] In accordance with this constitutional framework, the state comptroller has broad superintending authority unlike any other state auditor or treasurer in the nation to ensure that state agencies and local governments alike use taxpayer money effectively and efficiently to promote the common good. For example, the state comptroller:

  1. Serves as sole trustee of the $258.1 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund (value as of March 31, 2021), making the State Comptroller and his or her Department of Audit and Control one of the largest institutional investors in the world;
  2. Administers the New York State and Local Retirement System for public employees, with more than one million members, retirees and beneficiaries and more than 3,000 employers;
  3. Prescribes and maintains the state's accounting system and administers the State's approximately $16.7 billion payroll;
  4. Reports on the condition of the state's finances;
  5. Manages and issues the state debt;
  6. Reviews state contracts and audits payments to vendors;
  7. Conducts financial, compliance, and performance audits of local governments, state agencies, and public benefit corporations;
  8. Oversees the fiscal affairs of local governments, including New York City, and prescribes uniform systems of accounts, budgets, and financial reports therefor;
  9. Investigates waste, fraud, and abuse of public resources;
  10. Stewards the Justice Court Fund and the Oil Spill Fund;
  11. Functions as custodian of more than $17 billion in unclaimed funds, restoring lost accounts to their rightful owners; and
  12. Holds training conferences and provides technical assistance to improve state and local government operations. [4]

History

In 1776, the New York Provincial Congress appointed an auditor-general to settle the public accounts. After his resignation, the Council of Appointment appointed an auditor to succeed. In 1797, the office of the state comptroller was created by the State Legislature to succeed the state auditor. The comptroller was appointed by the Council of Appointment to a one-year term, and could be re-appointed without term limit. In 1800, the Legislature reduced the salary of the comptroller from $3,000 to $2,500, and Samuel Jones declined to be re-appointed.

Under the Constitution of 1821, the comptroller was elected by joint ballot of the New York State Legislature to a three-year term. Under the Constitution of 1846, the office became elective by general election, and the comptroller was elected with the other state cabinet officers in odd years to a two-year term, serving in the second year of the governor in office and the first year of the succeeding governor. The comptroller was elected in 1895 to a three-year term, and subsequently the state officers were elected in even years and served a two-year term concurrently with the governor. In 1926, the responsibilities of the New York State Treasurer were transferred to the comptroller as the head of the Department of Audit and Control. Since 1938, the comptroller has been elected to a four-year term, like the governor.

New York state comptrollers

ImageNameTook officeLeft officePartyNotes
Comfort Sands (1748-1834).png Comfort Sands July 24, 1776March 23, 1782as Auditor-General [5]
Peter T. Curtenius April 2, 17821797as Auditor
Samuel Jones (New York State Comptroller).png Samuel Jones March 15, 1797March 12, 1800
John V Henry (New York State Comptroller).png John Vernon Henry March 12, 1800August 10, 1801 Federalist
Elisha Jenkins (NY comptroller).png Elisha Jenkins August 10, 1801March 16, 1806 Dem.-Rep. appointed Secretary of State
Archibald McIntyre (NY Comptroller).png Archibald McIntyre March 26, 1806February 12, 1821Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
John Savage (Congressman).png John Savage February 12, 1821January 29, 1823Dem.-Rep.appointed Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court
William L. Marcy of New York.jpg William L. Marcy February 13, 1823January 21, 1829Dem.-Rep./Bucktailappointed to the New York Supreme Court shortly before the end of his second term
SilasWright.png Silas Wright January 27, 1829January 7, 1833 Democratic elected a U.S. Senator from New York during his second term
Azariah Cutting Flagg-restored.jpg Azariah C. Flagg January 11, 1833February 4, 1839 Democratic two terms
Bates Cooke (NY Comptroller).png Bates Cooke February 4, 1839January 1841 Whig resigned because of bad health
John A. Collier.jpg John A. Collier January 27, 1841February 7, 1842 Whig elected to a term of three years, but in 1842 all Whig state officers were removed by Democratic majority of the State Legislature
Azariah Cutting Flagg-restored.jpg Azariah C. Flagg February 7, 1842December 31, 1847 Democratic two terms, legislated out of office by the Constitution of 1846
Millard Fillmore daguerreotype by Mathew Brady 1849-crop.jpg Millard Fillmore January 1, 1848February 20, 1849 Whig first Comptroller elected by general ballot; went on to be U.S. Vice President and President
Washington-Hunt.jpg Washington Hunt February 20, 1849December 18, 1850 Whig elected by the State Legislature to fill unexpired term, then re-elected, then elected Governor of New York
Philo C. Fuller.png Philo C. Fuller December 18, 1850December 31, 1851 Whig appointed to fill unexpired term
John C. Wright (NY Comptroller).png John C. Wright January 1, 1852December 31, 1853Democratic
James Merrill Cook MET ap31.29.1.jpg James M. Cook January 1, 1854December 31, 1855 Whig
Lorenzo Burroughs.png Lorenzo Burrows January 1, 1856December 31, 1857 American
SanfordEChurch.png Sanford E. Church January 1, 1858December 31, 1859Democratic
Robert Denniston.png Robert Denniston January 1, 1860December 31, 1861 Republican
LuciusRobinson.jpg Lucius Robinson January 1, 1862December 31, 1865 Union two terms
Portrait of Thomas Hillhouse (1816-1897) from Prominent and Progressive Americans, 1902.png Thomas Hillhouse January 1, 1866December 31, 1867 Republican
WilliamFitchAllen.jpg William F. Allen January 1, 1868July 1, 1870 Democratic elected a judge of the New York Court of Appeals
Asher P. Nichols (New York State Comptroller).jpg Asher P. Nichols July 1, 1870December 31, 1871Democraticappointed to fill unexpired term, elected for the remainder of the term in Nov. 1870
Nelson K. Hopkins (New York State Comptroller).jpg Nelson K. Hopkins January 1, 1872December 31, 1875 Republican two terms
LuciusRobinson.jpg Lucius Robinson January 1, 1876December 31, 1876Democraticelected Governor of New York
Frederic P. Olcott.jpg Frederic P. Olcott January 1, 1877December 31, 1879Democraticappointed to fill unexpired term, then elected for a full term in Nov. 1877
James Wolcott Wadsworth.jpg James W. Wadsworth January 1, 1880December 31, 1881Republican
Davenport Ira.jpg Ira Davenport January 1, 1882December 31, 1883Republican
Alfred C. Chapin.jpg Alfred C. Chapin January 1, 1884December 31, 1887Democratictwo terms
Edward Wemple.png Edward Wemple January 1, 1888December 31, 1891Democratictwo terms
Frank Campbell (NY Comptroller).png Frank Campbell January 1, 1892December 31, 1893Democratic
JamesARoberts1897.jpg James A. Roberts January 1, 1894December 31, 1898Republicantwo terms (1894–95, 1896–98)
WilliamJMorganNewYork.jpg William J. Morgan January 1, 1899September 5, 1900Republicandied in office
TheodorePGilman.jpg Theodore P. Gilman September 5, 1900December 31, 1900Republicanas First Deputy Comptroller acted until being appointed to fill unexpired term
1902knights.jpg Erastus C. Knight January 1, 1901December 28, 1901Republicanelected Mayor of Buffalo
Portrait of Nathan L. Miller.jpg Nathan L. Miller December 30, 1901November 1903Republicanappointed to fill unexpired term, then elected for a full term in Nov. 1902, then resigned to take office as a justice of the New York Supreme Court
OttoKelsey.jpg Otto Kelsey November 12, 1903May 2, 1906Republicanappointed to fill unexpired term, then elected for a full term in Nov. 1904, then appointed Superintendent of Insurance
William C. Wilson May 2, 1906December 31, 1906Republicanas First Deputy Comptroller acted until being appointed on November 8 to fill unexpired term
Martin H. Glynn.jpg Martin H. Glynn January 1, 1907December 31, 1908Democratic
Charles H. Gaus.jpg Charles H. Gaus January 1, 1909October 31, 1909Republicandied in office
OttoKelsey.jpg Otto Kelsey October 31, 1909November 11, 1909Republicanas First Deputy Comptroller acted until the appointment of a successor
Myron Clark Williams (1870-1946).png Clark Williams November 11, 1909December 31, 1910Republicanappointed to fill unexpired term
William Sohmer.jpg William Sohmer January 1, 1911December 31, 1914Democratictwo terms
Eugene Mabbett Travis circa 1915.jpg Eugene M. Travis January 1, 1915December 31, 1920Republicanthree terms
JamesAWendell.jpg James A. Wendell January 1, 1921May 10, 1922Republicandied in office
Maier-William-J-1906.jpg William J. Maier May 10, 1922December 31, 1922Republicanas First Deputy Comptroller acted until being appointed on May 22 to fill unexpired term
James W. Fleming (New York State Comptroller).jpg James W. Fleming January 1, 1923December 31, 1924Democratic
Vincent B. Murphy (New York State Comptroller).jpg Vincent B. Murphy January 1, 1925December 31, 1926Republican
Morris S. Tremaine (New York State Comptroller).jpg Morris S. Tremaine January 1, 1927October 12, 1941Democraticseven terms, died in office
Harry D. Yates October 12, 1941October 17, 1941Democraticas First Deputy Comptroller acted until the appointment of a successor
Joseph V. O'Leary (New York State Comptroller).jpg Joseph V. O'Leary October 17, 1941December 31, 1942 American Labor appointed to fill unexpired term
Frank C. Moore (politician).png Frank C. Moore January 1, 1943December 31, 1950Republicantwo terms
J. Raymond McGovern (New York State Comptroller).jpg J. Raymond McGovern January 1, 1951December 31, 1954Republican
Arthur Levitt Sr. 1959 (cropped).jpg Arthur Levitt Sr. January 1, 1955December 31, 1978Democraticsix terms, longest-serving Comptroller (24 years)
Edward V. Regan (New York State Comptroller).jpg Edward Regan January 1, 1979May 7, 1993Republicanresigned in the middle of his fourth term
Carl McCall May 7, 1993December 31, 2002Democraticelected by State Legislature to fill unexpired term, then re-elected twice
Alan Hevesi January 1, 2003December 22, 2006Democraticre-elected to a second term, but resigned prior to its commencement [6]
Thomas Sanzillo December 22, 2006February 7, 2007as First Deputy Comptroller acted until the election of a successor by the State Legislature
Thomas P. DiNapoli crop.jpg Thomas DiNapoli February 7, 2007presentDemocraticelected by the State Legislature to fill unexpired term, then re-elected four times

Related Research Articles

In many states with political systems derived from the Westminster system, a consolidated fund or consolidated revenue fund is the main bank account of the government. General taxation is taxation paid into the consolidated fund, and general spending is paid out of the consolidated fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State Auditor</span> Auditor of the U.S. state of North Carolina

The state auditor of North Carolina is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The state auditor is a constitutional officer responsible for overseeing and reviewing the financial accounts of all state government agencies. The auditor also conducts performance audits of state agencies, ensures state agencies' accounting conforms with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, evaluates the integrity of computer-generated information, and investigates the misuse of state funds or property. The incumbent is Jessica Holmes, who became state auditor on December 16, 2023.

A comptroller is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior-level executive who acts as the head of accounting, and oversees the preparation of financial reports, such as balance sheets and income statements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comptroller of Maryland</span> Chief financial officer for the U.S. state of Maryland

The comptroller of Maryland is a constitutional officer of the U.S. state of Maryland. Thirty-four individuals have held the office of comptroller since 1851, when the office was created. The incumbent is Brooke Lierman, a Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comptroller and Auditor General of India</span> Comptroller and auditor general of India

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the supreme audit institution of India, established under Article 148 of the Constitution of India. They are empowered to audit all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the State Governments, including those of autonomous bodies and corporations substantially financed by the government. The CAG is also the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts supplementary audit of government companies in which the government has an equity share of at least 51 percent or subsidiary companies of existing government companies. The CAG is also the statutory auditor of the Lokpal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State Auditor</span> Constitutional officer of Minnesota, United States

The state auditor of Minnesota is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Nineteen individuals have held the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Julie Blaha, a DFLer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Wisconsin</span> Constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin

The secretary of state of Wisconsin is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and is second in the line of succession to the office of governor of Wisconsin. Twenty-nine individuals have held the office of secretary of state, two of whom have held non-consecutive terms. The incumbent is Sarah Godlewski, who was appointed by Governor Tony Evers on March 17, 2023, to replace long-time Secretary of State Doug La Follette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Auditor of Missouri</span>

The state auditor of Missouri is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Missouri. Thirty-eight individuals have occupied the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector</span> Elected official

The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is an elected Constitutional officer for the U.S. State of Oklahoma. The State Auditor and Inspector is responsible for auditing and prescribing bookkeeping standards of all government agencies and county treasurers within Oklahoma. The office in its current form is a consolidation of the office of State Auditor with that of the office of State Examiner and Inspector, both of which dated back to statehood in 1907. The two positions were combined in 1979 after passage of State Question 510 in 1975. Tom Daxon was the first person to hold the combined office and the first Republican as all previous occupants of either position were Democrats.

The New Jersey State Auditor is a constitutional officer appointed by the New Jersey Legislature and administratively placed within the Office of Legislative Services. The Auditor conducts financial and performance audits of State agencies, certain school districts, and vicinages of the Judiciary. The State Auditor also conducts studies on the operation, economy and efficiency of State-run or State-supported programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State auditor</span> Executive officer of a U.S. state

State auditors are fiscal officers lodged in the executive or legislative branches of U.S. state governments who serve as external auditors, program evaluators, financial controllers, bookkeepers, or inspectors general of public funds. The office of state auditor may be a creature of the state constitution or one created by statutory law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Comptroller</span> U.S. state constitutional officer position

The Comptroller of Illinois is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Illinois. Ten individuals have held the office of Comptroller since the enactment of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, replacing the prior office of Auditor of Public Accounts that was first created in 1799. The incumbent is Susana Mendoza, a Democrat.

The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed to the New York State Comptroller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas State Auditor</span> Executive accountant for Arkansas, US

The Arkansas state auditor is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Thirty-five individuals have occupied the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Dennis Milligan, a Republican who took office in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana State Auditor</span>

The Indiana auditor of state is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Indiana. Fifty-seven individuals have occupied the office of auditor of state since statehood. The incumbent is Elise Nieshalla, a Republican.

The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is the premier accounting office of the Government of Pakistan. The Office is entrusted with the task of producing accurate and timely financial statements for the federation. It was formed under an ordinance issued in 2001. The Office achieves task through dedicated human resources, immense investment in infrastructure and strict quality control checks by the Senior Officers. It is also responsible for disbursing government money in form of payments of salaries and allowances to government servants and payments to contractors. All these transactions and any other transactions by Government of Pakistan, are captured in the SAP ERP and then the information is used to generate monthly, quarterly and yearly financials. The Controller General of Accounts is appointed by the President from amongst the officers of the Accounts Group and shall hold a civil service rank of BPS 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comptroller and Auditor General (Bangladesh)</span> Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Bangladesh

The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh (CAG) is the supreme audit institution of the country. Like the SAIs in many other countries across the world, the institution is established by the Constitution of Bangladesh. This institute is responsible for maintaining accounts of the republic and auditing all receipts and expenditure of the Government of Bangladesh, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. The reports of the CAG are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee, which is a standing committee in the Parliament of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Auditor</span>

The state auditor of Washington is an independently elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Washington. Eleven individuals have held the office since statehood. The incumbent is Pat McCarthy, a Democrat and the first woman to occupy the office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia State Auditor</span>

The state auditor of West Virginia is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of West Virginia. The incumbent is JB McCuskey, a Republican.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina Comptroller General</span> Constitutional officer

The comptroller general of South Carolina is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of South Carolina. Forty individuals have held the office of comptroller general since 1800. The office has been held by Brian J. Gaines since May 12, 2023, who was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster as a recess appointment following the resignation of Richard Eckstrom on April 30, 2023. McMaster appointed Gaines to avoid a constitutional crisis; since the office was vacant, no person could authorize the distribution of funds.

References

  1. Division of the Budget Agency Appropriations
  2. Executive Law § 40. "There shall continue to be in the state government a department of audit and control. [...] The head of the department of audit and control shall be the comptroller. [...]"
  3. "Article V, Section 1, New York Constitution" (PDF). New York Senate. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  4. "About the Comptroller's Office". Office of the New York State Comptroller. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. Google Books: The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 34; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
  6. "Hevesi Resigns, Pleading Guilty to Fraud Count". The New York Times. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2018.

See also