Office of the New York City Comptroller

News Updates

Comptroller Review Finds City’s Small Business Forward Program Failed to Cut Red Tape or Limit Fines

New York, NY — A new review conducted by auditors of New York City Comptroller Mark Levine found the Small Business Forward program, aimed at easing regulatory and financial burdens on small businesses across the five boroughs, failed to achieve meaningful change for small businesses in New York City. Vague definitions, a lack of inter-agency engagement, and inadequate benchmarking all contributed to the poor performance of the otherwise well-intentioned initiative. “Small Business Forward was a well-intentioned program designed to cut red tape and...

Monte Tarbox Selected as Chief Investment Officer for the Office of the New York City Comptroller’s Bureau of Asset Management

New York, NY — Today, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine announced his appointment of Monte Tarbox as Chief Investment Officer for the Office of the New York City Comptroller’s Bureau of Asset Management (BAM). Tarbox has served as interim chief investment officer since the beginning of the year. Tarbox’s appointment comes at a crucial time for the Systems, one of the nation’s largest institutional investors valued at $316.34 billion, as mounting geopolitical pressures increase the importance of a prudent investment strategy that...

Statement from NYC Comptroller Levine on Fitch Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency Revising the City’s Outlook to Negative

New York, NY – New York City Comptroller Mark Levine released the following statement in response to Fitch Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) revising the City’s outlook from stable to negative. “A negative outlook from a credit rating agency is not a downgrade—but it is a warning. With today’s revisions from Fitch and Kroll now 3 of our 4 ratings agencies are sending us a similar message: New York City needs to address the underlying structural imbalances in our budget. “Thankfully, New York City’s economy...

New York by the Numbers Monthly Economic and Fiscal Outlook No. 111 – March 2026

A Message from the Comptroller Dear New Yorkers, New York City must pass a balanced budget by June 30 and as you've probably heard, this year’s negotiations are especially complex. Despite a stronger-than-expected economy — with real wages rising nearly 3%, Wall Street bonuses at record highs, and most major City tax revenues growing — the City is facing a fiscal shortfall on a scale we haven’t seen since the Great Recession. In other words, we’re spending more than we’re...

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2026