LOCAL

These Southern Tier governments are at risk for fiscal stress, New York comptroller says

Jeff Murray
Elmira Star-Gazette

Some Southern Tier municipalities are among local and county governments statewide that will have to carefully monitor their management of tax dollars.

Thirty local governments in New York State ended 2020 in some form of fiscal stress, according to a report released by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Among municipalities with the highest fiscal stress scores is the Town of Caneadea in Allegany County.

Broome County government and several municipalities in Chemung and Steuben counties are in danger of facing financial difficulties, the comptroller's report indicated.

The report covers all local governments outside of New York City.

Each locale was assigned a fiscal stress score based on several factors, including high operating deficits, low fund balance, and inadequate cash flow, among others.

Points were assigned based on a combination of indicators. Communities with 45 points or more are considered susceptible to fiscal stress, those with 55 points or greater are moderately stressed, and any community over 65 points is significantly stressed.

All local governments faced financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but those designated as stressed are less likely to have the flexibility to adapt to fiscal challenges in the future and must budget and plan carefully, DiNapoli said in a news release.

Southern Tier communities on the list:

  • Town of Caneadea (Allegany County): Score: 65.4 (significant stress.) 2020 score: 63.8. 2019 score: 41.3. 
  • Town of Centerville (Allegany County): Score: 50.8 (susceptible.) 2020 score: 25.4. 2019 score: 37.9.
  • Village of Addison (Steuben County): Score: 53.8 (susceptible.) 2020 score: 22.5. 2019 score: 19.2.
  • Town of Pulteney (Steuben County): Score: 45.8 (susceptible.) 2020 score: 55.4. 2019 score: 36.7.
  • Town of Southport (Chemung County): Score: 45.4 (susceptible.) 2020 score: 26.7. 2019 score: 32.5.
  • Broome County: Score: 49.6 (susceptible.) 2020 score: 41.7. 2019 score: 51.3.

Some fiscally strong Southern Tier communities:

  • City of Elmira (Chemung County): Score: 14.6. 2020 score: 41.3. 2019 score: 68.3.
  • Town of Catlin (Chemung County): Score: 3.3. 2020 score: 3.3. 2019 score: 6.7.
  • Town of Chenango (Broome County): Score: 1.7. 2020 score: 1.7. 2019 score: 1.7.
  • Village of Newark Valley (Tioga County): Score: 1.7. 2020 score: 1.7 2019 score: 3.3.
  • Town of Campbell (Steuben County): Score: 1.7. 2020 score: 1.7. 2019 score: 1.7.

To see the complete list of every local government outside of New York City and its fiscal rating, go to wwe1.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/fiscalmonitoring/fsms.cfm.

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