Proposed state budget contains close to $12 billion unaccounted spending, says Citizens Union

ALBANY – Citizen Union,
the group that promotes transparency in government released a report on
Wednesday that says that $11.7 billion of spending in the proposed state
budget is in nonspecific lump sum funding “pots.”
The state budget, by law, is supposed to be adopted by this Saturday, March 31.
The group said $9.6 billion of that is earmarked for economic development or infrastructure with a lack of spending criteria and accountability and $2.1 billion where individual elected officials control spending decisions with little constraint or public oversight.
Citizen Union Public Policy and Program Manager Ethan Geringer-Sameth said that could create problems.
“Because these spending decisions are made out of public view, there are opportunities for corruption such as bribery and kickbacks or directing funds to entities that can provide benefits to friends and family members,” he said. “The Percoco trial is one example of the potential misuse of such funds.”
Geringer-Sameth based on past budget history, he does not expect the Citizens Union recommendations to heeded.
Those include publicly posting comprehensive information about distribution of nonspecific lump sum funds; amending state finance law to require that elected officials who seek to make awards from lump-sum appropriations affirm that the expenditures are for a lawful public purpose, without personal financial benefit or any conflict of interest; requiring comprehensive online disclosure of all grants and contracts awarded under those nonspecific lump-sums; enacting legislation to limit contributions by persons and entities doing business with the state; and creating public disclosure by allowing budget bills to age for three days.