Citizens Union believes the state budgeting process needs to be improved to ensure that public funds are not misused and lawmakers are meaningfully involved in spending decisions. We support reforming the lump-sum appropriations process at the State Legislature, which often allows millions of dollars to be spent without spending criteria or accountability mechanisms. We also support strengthening oversight monitors, like the state comptroller, to ensure contracts are awarded only after appropriate review. Opaque spending with little oversight invites corruption and raises serious concerns about the integrity of our budgets.
In addition, Citizens Union supports empowering the State Legislature in the state’s budget process.
Recent Activity
Watchdog Groups Urge Governor and Legislative Leaders to Publish Basic Financial Tables with Budget Agreement
March 30, 2023
March 29, 2023 - A letter to the Governor, Senate Majority Leader, and Assembly Speaker on publishing basic, multi-year financial plan tables as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted Budget.
Group Letter to Legislative Leaders on Omitting extraordinary budget powers from the enacted budget
March 23, 2023
March 23, 2023 - A letter to Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker urging them to ensure that extraordinary budget powers are omitted from the enacted budget, and that they reject provisions added to appropriations that remove competitive bidding requirements and theComptroller’s oversight.
Dozens of Unions, Watchdogs, and Other Groups Urge Gov. Hochul to Sign Bill Restoring Comptroller’s Oversight Powers
October 5, 2022
October 5, 2022 - Eight unions and 27 organizations sent a memo of support today urging Governor Hochul to sign S6809-A/A7925-A (Reichlin-Melnick/Zebrowski), which restores many of the State Comptroller’s contract oversight powers. District Council 37, CWA District 1, AFSCME, and NYSUT were among those calling on the Governor to sign the bill, which the legislature passed in June.
Watchdogs Ask Gov Hochul to Keep Her Transparency Pledge, Show Public How $8B+ in Lump Sum Funds Are Spent
May 24, 2022
May 24, 2022 - Leading government and budget watchdog groups are once again asking Government Hochul to keep her promise to bring a “new era of transparency” to state government, this time by showing the public how billions in state lump sum funds are spent.
Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response to 2022 State Budget Deal
April 11, 2022
April 8, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the details of the New York State budget deal:
“Governor Hochul’s first state budget presented a rare opportunity to push for meaningful ethics reform in Albany. Unfortunately, the governor and the legislature failed to create an independent ethics oversight body. The new commission designed to replace JCOPE is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.
Citizens Union Announces Positions On Ballot Proposals For 2019 General Election
October 7, 2019
October 7, 2019 - Good Government Group Supports Ranked Choice Voting, Increasing Oversight of NYPD, Modifications to the City Budget, and Changes to Land Use Review; Opposes Proposed Changes to Ethics Rule.
Citizens Union Applauds Charter Revision Commission for Putting Ranked Choice Voting, CCRB Reforms on November Ballot
July 25, 2019
July 25, 2019 — Citizens Union, a leading good government group committed to fostering accountability, accessibility, and transparency in our government issues the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the proposals put on the ballot by the Charter Revision Commission.
Memorandum of Support: S.3287 (Krueger)/A.1835 (Ortiz)
February 26, 2019
February 16, 2019 - An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to creation of the non-partisan legislative budget office
Spending in the Shadows FY19 Executive Budget – Executive Summary
February 7, 2019
February 7, 2019 - Spending in the Shadows Executive Summary
Spending in the Shadows – Nonspecific Funding in the FY 19 NYS Executive Budget
February 7, 2019
February 7, 2019 - Spending in the Shadows Executive Budget
Spending in the Shadows 2019 Enacted Addendum
February 7, 2019
February 7, 2019 - Spending in the Shadows Enacted Addendum
Citizens Union Faults State for Proposed $11.7 Billion in Unaccounted Spending
March 28, 2018
March 28, 2018 - Today, Citizens Union released Spending in the Shadows: Nonspecific Funding in the FY 2019 New York State Executive Budget.
Spending in the Shadows FY2019
March 18, 2018
New Yorkers need a clear way to be informed of billions budgeted, without any public reporting from the New York State Assembly or State Senate, over the past five years.
Spending in the Shadows Media Advisory
May 25, 2017
May 25th, 2017 - Citizens Union will announce the latest findings of the annual Spending in the Shadows report. This report illuminates $13 billion in nonspecific lump sum funding “pots” found in the New York FY 2018 Enacted Budget.
Citizens Union Releases Spending in the Shadows Report
March 21, 2017
March 21, 2017 - There is little, if any, public disclosures in reporting on how these funds are eventually spent, involving whom, and what elected officials are involved.