DiNapoli Designates Nine N.Y. Villages as 'Fiscally Stressed'

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has identified nine villages across the state as having some level of fiscal stress, down from 18 a year ago.

DiNapoli's report Wednesday designated three village governments in "moderate fiscal stress" with six as "susceptible to fiscal stress." The comptroller's office evaluated 535 villages, which predominantly have a fiscal year ending on May 31, using financial indicators that include year-end fund balance, short-term borrowing and patterns of operating deficits.

"This is the second year fiscal stress has declined in villages and the first year without a village in significant fiscal stress," said DiNapoli in a statement. "I commend local officials for this improvement and believe that sensible budgeting and closely following their multi-year financial plans can help extend financial stability into the future."

For the fiscal year ending 2016, the three villages in "moderate fiscal stress" are Ellenville (Ulster County), Granville (Washington) and Gowanda (Cattaraugus). Those considered "susceptible to fiscal stress" include Andover (Allegany), Catskill (Greene), Pomona (Rockland), Valley Stream (Nassau), Walden (Orange) and Wurtsboro (Sullivan).

DiNapoli noted that from 2014 to 2016 a total of 33 villages received a fiscal stress designation in at least one year. The villages of Andover, Catskill, Pomona and Walden have been in stress each of those years.