State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Pba > Article-10-d > Title-1 > 3669

§ 3669. Control period. 1. The authority shall impose a control period  upon  its determination at any time that any of the following events has  occurred or that there is a substantial likelihood and imminence of such  occurrence: (a) the county shall have failed to pay the principal of  or  interest  on  any  of  its  bonds  or notes when due or payable, (b) the  county shall have incurred  a  major  operating  funds  deficit  of  one  percent  or  more  in  the aggregate results of operations of such funds  during its fiscal  year  assuming  all  revenues  and  expenditures  are  reported  in  accordance  with generally accepted accounting principles,  subject to the provisions of this  title,  (c)  the  county  shall  have  otherwise  violated  any  provision  of  this  title  and such violation  substantially impairs the marketability of the county's bonds or  notes,  (d) the chief fiscal officer's certification at any time, at the request  of  the  authority  or  on  the chief fiscal officer's initiative, which  certification  shall  be  made  from  time  to  time  as   promptly   as  circumstances  warrant  and reported to the authority, that on the basis  of facts  existing  at  such  time  such  officer  could  not  make  the  certification  described  by  paragraph  (b)  of this subdivision in the  definition of interim  finance  period  in  section  thirty-six  hundred  fifty-one of this title, or (e) the authority makes the finding required  under  paragraph  (g)  of  subdivision two of section thirty-six hundred  sixty-seven of this  title.  The  authority  shall  terminate  any  such  control  period  when  it  determines  that none of the conditions which  would permit the authority to  impose  a  control  period  exist.  After  termination  of  a  control period the authority shall annually consider  paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subdivision and determine whether, in  its judgment, any of  the  events  described  in  such  paragraphs  have  occurred  and  the  authority shall publish each such determination. Any  certification made by the chief fiscal officer hereunder shall be  based  on  such officers' written determination which shall take into account a  report and  opinion  of  an  independent  expert  in  the  marketing  of  municipal  securities selected by the authority, and the opinion of such  expert and any other information taken into account shall be made public  when delivered  to  the  authority.  Notwithstanding  any  part  of  the  foregoing to the contrary, in no event shall any control period continue  beyond  the later of (i) January first, two thousand thirty, or (ii) the  date when all  bonds  of  the  authority  are  refunded,  discharged  or  otherwise defeased.    2.  In  carrying  out  the  purposes  of this title during any control  period:    (a) The authority shall (i) consult with the county  and  the  covered  organizations  in  the preparation of the financial plan, and certify to  the county the revenue estimates approved therein,  (ii)  prescribe  the  form  of  the  financial plan and the supporting information required in  connection therewith, (iii) exercise the rights of approval, disapproval  and modification with respect to the financial plan, including  but  not  limited  to  the  revenue  estimates  contained therein, and (iv) in the  event  the  authority  has  made  the  finding  required  under  section  thirty-six  hundred  sixty-seven  of this title, formulate and adopt its  modifications to  the  financial  plan,  such  modifications  to  become  effective on their adoption by the authority.    (b)  The authority shall, from time to time and to the extent it deems  necessary or desirable in order  to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  this  title,   (i)   review   the   operations,   management,  efficiency  and  productivity of such county operations and of such covered organizations  or portions thereof as the authority may  determine,  and  make  reports  thereon;  (ii) audit compliance with the financial plan in such areas as  the authority may determine; (iii)  recommend  to  the  county  and  thecovered  organizations  such  measures  relating  to  their  operations,  management, efficiency and  productivity  as  it  deems  appropriate  to  reduce  costs and improve services so as to advance the purposes of this  title;  and (iv) obtain information on the financial condition and needs  of the county  and  the  covered  organizations.  Nothing  herein  shall  diminish  the  powers of the state comptroller otherwise provided by law  and the authority may request the assistance of the state comptroller in  the performance of the above functions.    (c) The authority shall (i) receive from the county  and  the  covered  organizations and from the state comptroller, and review, such financial  statements   and   projections,  budgetary  data  and  information,  and  management reports and materials as the  authority  deems  necessary  or  desirable  to  accomplish  the purposes of this title, and (ii) inspect,  copy and audit such books and records of  the  county  and  the  covered  organizations   as   the  authority  deems  necessary  or  desirable  to  accomplish the purposes of this title.    (d)  All  contracts  entered  into  by  the  county  or  any   covered  organization  during  any  control  period  must  be consistent with the  provisions of this title and must comply with the  requirements  of  the  financial  plan  as  approved  by  the  authority.  With  respect to all  contracts or other obligations to be entered into by the county  or  any  covered  organization during any control period requiring the payment of  funds  or  the  incurring  of  costs  by  the  county  or  any   covered  organizations:    (i)  Within twenty days from the commencement of a control period, the  county executive shall present  to  the  authority  proposed  guidelines  respecting  the  categories and types of contracts and other obligations  required to be reviewed by the authority pursuant to  this  subdivision.  Any  such  guidelines  may  provide a different standard for review with  respect to contracts of any covered organization as the authority  shall  determine. Within thirty days from the commencement of a control period,  the  authority  shall  approve  or  modify  and  approve  such  proposed  guidelines or promulgate  its  own  in  the  event  that  such  proposed  guidelines  are  not  submitted to it within the twenty days as provided  for herein. Such guidelines may thereafter be modified by the  authority  from  time  to  time  on not less than thirty days' notice to the county  executive and the  county  executive  may  from  time  to  time  propose  modifications to the authority. Unless expressly disapproved or modified  by  the  authority  within  thirty  days  (or  such additional time, not  exceeding thirty days, as the authority shall have notified  the  county  or  covered  organization  that  it  requires to complete its review and  analysis) from the date of submission by the county executive, any  such  proposed  guidelines  or  modifications  shall be deemed approved by the  authority;    (ii) Prior to entering into any contract or other  obligation  subject  to  review  of  the  authority  under  its guidelines, the county or any  covered organization shall submit a  copy  of  such  contract  or  other  obligation  to the authority accompanied by an analysis of the projected  costs of such  contract  or  other  obligation  and  certification  that  performance  thereof  will be in accordance with the financial plan, all  in such form and with such additional information as the  authority  may  prescribe.  The  authority  shall  promptly  review  the  terms  of such  contract or other obligation and the supporting information in order  to  determine compliance with the financial plan;    (iii)  The authority shall, by order, disapprove any contract or other  obligation  reviewed  by  it  only  after  adoption  of   a   resolution  determining  that,  in its judgment, the performance of such contract or  other obligation would be inconsistent with the financial plan, and uponsuch order the county or covered organization shall not enter into  such  contract or other obligation; and    (iv)  If  the  authority  approves the terms of a reviewed contract or  other obligation, the county or covered organization may enter into such  contract or other obligation upon the terms submitted to the  authority.  Failure  of  the  authority to notify the county or covered organization  within thirty days (or such additional time, not exceeding thirty  days,  as  the authority shall have notified the county or covered organization  that it requires to complete its review and analysis)  after  submission  to  it  of  a  contract  or other obligation that such contract or other  obligation has been disapproved shall be deemed to constitute  authority  approval thereof.    (e)  The  authority  shall review the terms of each proposed long-term  and short-term borrowing by the county and any covered  organization  to  be  effected  during  any control period, and no such borrowing shall be  made during any control period unless it is approved by  the  authority.  Neither the county nor any covered organization shall be prohibited from  issuing bonds or notes to pay outstanding bonds or notes.    (f)  The  authority  shall  issue,  to the appropriate official of the  county and each covered organization, such orders as it deems  necessary  to accomplish the purposes of this title, including, but not limited to,  timely  and  satisfactory  implementation of an approved financial plan.  Any order so issued shall be binding upon the official to  whom  it  was  issued  and failure to comply with such order shall subject the official  to the penalties described in subdivision four of this section.    (g) The authority is authorized to and shall withhold any transitional  state aid and not pay such moneys  to  the  county  during  any  control  period.    3.  Authorization for wage freeze. (a) During a control period, upon a  finding by the authority that a wage freeze is essential to the adoption  or maintenance of a county  budget  or  a  financial  plan  that  is  in  compliance  with  this  title,  the  authority,  after  enactment  of  a  resolution so finding, may declare a fiscal crisis. Upon making  such  a  declaration,  the  authority  shall  be  empowered  to  order  that  all  increases in salary or wages of employees of the county and employees of  covered organizations which will take effect after the date of the order  pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, other analogous  contracts  or  interest  arbitration  awards, now in existence or hereafter entered  into, requiring such salary increases as  of  any  date  thereafter  are  suspended.  Such  order may also provide that all increased payments for  holiday  and  vacation  differentials,   shift   differentials,   salary  adjustments  according  to plan and step-ups or increments for employees  of the county and employees of covered  organizations  which  will  take  effect  after  the  date  of the order pursuant to collective bargaining  agreements, other analogous contracts  or  interest  arbitration  awards  requiring  such increased payments as of any date thereafter are, in the  same manner, suspended. For the purposes of computing the  pension  base  of retirement allowances, any suspended salary or wage increases and any  suspended other payments shall not be considered as part of compensation  or  final  compensation  or  of  annual  salary  earned or earnable. The  suspensions authorized hereunder shall continue until one year after the  date of the order and,  to  the  extent  of  any  determination  of  the  authority  that  a continuation of such suspensions, to a date specified  by the authority, is necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the  financial  plan,  such  suspensions  shall  be  continued  to  the  date  specified  by  the authority, which date shall in no event be later than  the end of the interim finance period, provided  that  such  suspensions  shall  terminate with respect to employees who have agreed to a deferralof salary or wage increase upon the certification of  the  agreement  by  the authority pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.    (b)  This  subdivision  shall  not  be  applicable to employees of the  county or employees of a covered organization covered  by  a  collective  bargaining  agreement  or  an  employee  of  the  county  or  a  covered  organization not covered by a collective bargaining agreement where  the  collective  bargaining representative or such unrepresented employee has  agreed to a deferment of salary or wage increase, by  an  instrument  in  writing which has been certified by the authority as being an acceptable  and appropriate contribution toward alleviating the fiscal crisis of the  county. Any such agreement to a deferment of salary or wage increase may  provide  that  for  the  purposes  of  computing  the  pension  base  of  retirement allowances, any deferred  salary  or  wage  increase  may  be  considered  as  part  of compensation or final compensation or of annual  salary earned or earnable.    (c) The authority may, if it finds that the  fiscal  crisis  has  been  sufficiently alleviated or for any other appropriate reason, direct that  the  suspensions  of  salary  or  wage increases or suspensions of other  increased  payments  or  benefits  shall,  in  whole  or  in  part,   be  terminated.    4.  Prohibition;  penalties.  (a)  During  any  control  period (i) no  officer or employee of the county or of any of the covered organizations  shall make or authorize an obligation or other liability  in  excess  of  the  amount  available  therefor  under  the  financial  plan as then in  effect; (ii) no officer or employee of the  county  or  of  any  of  the  covered  organizations  shall  involve  the county or any of the covered  organizations in any contract or other obligation or liability  for  the  payment  of  money  for  any  purpose  required  to  be  approved by the  authority unless such contract has been  so  approved  and  unless  such  contract  or obligation or liability is in compliance with the financial  plan as then in effect.    (b) No officer or employee  of  the  county  or  any  of  the  covered  organizations  shall  take any action in violation of any valid order of  the authority or shall fail or refuse to take any action required by any  such  order  or  shall  prepare,  present  or  certify  any  information  (including  any  projections or estimates) or report to the authority or  any of its agents that is false or misleading, or,  upon  learning  that  any  such  information  is  false  or misleading, shall fail promptly to  advise the authority or its agents thereof.    (c) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other  law,  any  officer  or  employees of the county or any of the covered organizations  who shall violate paragraph (a) or (b)  of  this  subdivision  shall  be  subject   to  appropriate  administrative  discipline,  including,  when  circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay or removal  from  office  by order of either the governor or the county executive; and any  officer or employees of the county or any of the  covered  organizations  who  shall  knowingly and willfully violate paragraph (a) or (b) of this  subdivision shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.    (d) In the case of a  violation  of  paragraph  (a)  or  (b)  of  this  subdivision  by  an  officer  or  employee  of  the county or any of the  covered organizations, the  county  executive  or  the  chief  executive  officer  of  such  covered  organization shall immediately report to the  authority all pertinent facts together with a statement  of  the  action  taken thereon.

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Pba > Article-10-d > Title-1 > 3669

§ 3669. Control period. 1. The authority shall impose a control period  upon  its determination at any time that any of the following events has  occurred or that there is a substantial likelihood and imminence of such  occurrence: (a) the county shall have failed to pay the principal of  or  interest  on  any  of  its  bonds  or notes when due or payable, (b) the  county shall have incurred  a  major  operating  funds  deficit  of  one  percent  or  more  in  the aggregate results of operations of such funds  during its fiscal  year  assuming  all  revenues  and  expenditures  are  reported  in  accordance  with generally accepted accounting principles,  subject to the provisions of this  title,  (c)  the  county  shall  have  otherwise  violated  any  provision  of  this  title  and such violation  substantially impairs the marketability of the county's bonds or  notes,  (d) the chief fiscal officer's certification at any time, at the request  of  the  authority  or  on  the chief fiscal officer's initiative, which  certification  shall  be  made  from  time  to  time  as   promptly   as  circumstances  warrant  and reported to the authority, that on the basis  of facts  existing  at  such  time  such  officer  could  not  make  the  certification  described  by  paragraph  (b)  of this subdivision in the  definition of interim  finance  period  in  section  thirty-six  hundred  fifty-one of this title, or (e) the authority makes the finding required  under  paragraph  (g)  of  subdivision two of section thirty-six hundred  sixty-seven of this  title.  The  authority  shall  terminate  any  such  control  period  when  it  determines  that none of the conditions which  would permit the authority to  impose  a  control  period  exist.  After  termination  of  a  control period the authority shall annually consider  paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subdivision and determine whether, in  its judgment, any of  the  events  described  in  such  paragraphs  have  occurred  and  the  authority shall publish each such determination. Any  certification made by the chief fiscal officer hereunder shall be  based  on  such officers' written determination which shall take into account a  report and  opinion  of  an  independent  expert  in  the  marketing  of  municipal  securities selected by the authority, and the opinion of such  expert and any other information taken into account shall be made public  when delivered  to  the  authority.  Notwithstanding  any  part  of  the  foregoing to the contrary, in no event shall any control period continue  beyond  the later of (i) January first, two thousand thirty, or (ii) the  date when all  bonds  of  the  authority  are  refunded,  discharged  or  otherwise defeased.    2.  In  carrying  out  the  purposes  of this title during any control  period:    (a) The authority shall (i) consult with the county  and  the  covered  organizations  in  the preparation of the financial plan, and certify to  the county the revenue estimates approved therein,  (ii)  prescribe  the  form  of  the  financial plan and the supporting information required in  connection therewith, (iii) exercise the rights of approval, disapproval  and modification with respect to the financial plan, including  but  not  limited  to  the  revenue  estimates  contained therein, and (iv) in the  event  the  authority  has  made  the  finding  required  under  section  thirty-six  hundred  sixty-seven  of this title, formulate and adopt its  modifications to  the  financial  plan,  such  modifications  to  become  effective on their adoption by the authority.    (b)  The authority shall, from time to time and to the extent it deems  necessary or desirable in order  to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  this  title,   (i)   review   the   operations,   management,  efficiency  and  productivity of such county operations and of such covered organizations  or portions thereof as the authority may  determine,  and  make  reports  thereon;  (ii) audit compliance with the financial plan in such areas as  the authority may determine; (iii)  recommend  to  the  county  and  thecovered  organizations  such  measures  relating  to  their  operations,  management, efficiency and  productivity  as  it  deems  appropriate  to  reduce  costs and improve services so as to advance the purposes of this  title;  and (iv) obtain information on the financial condition and needs  of the county  and  the  covered  organizations.  Nothing  herein  shall  diminish  the  powers of the state comptroller otherwise provided by law  and the authority may request the assistance of the state comptroller in  the performance of the above functions.    (c) The authority shall (i) receive from the county  and  the  covered  organizations and from the state comptroller, and review, such financial  statements   and   projections,  budgetary  data  and  information,  and  management reports and materials as the  authority  deems  necessary  or  desirable  to  accomplish  the purposes of this title, and (ii) inspect,  copy and audit such books and records of  the  county  and  the  covered  organizations   as   the  authority  deems  necessary  or  desirable  to  accomplish the purposes of this title.    (d)  All  contracts  entered  into  by  the  county  or  any   covered  organization  during  any  control  period  must  be consistent with the  provisions of this title and must comply with the  requirements  of  the  financial  plan  as  approved  by  the  authority.  With  respect to all  contracts or other obligations to be entered into by the county  or  any  covered  organization during any control period requiring the payment of  funds  or  the  incurring  of  costs  by  the  county  or  any   covered  organizations:    (i)  Within twenty days from the commencement of a control period, the  county executive shall present  to  the  authority  proposed  guidelines  respecting  the  categories and types of contracts and other obligations  required to be reviewed by the authority pursuant to  this  subdivision.  Any  such  guidelines  may  provide a different standard for review with  respect to contracts of any covered organization as the authority  shall  determine. Within thirty days from the commencement of a control period,  the  authority  shall  approve  or  modify  and  approve  such  proposed  guidelines or promulgate  its  own  in  the  event  that  such  proposed  guidelines  are  not  submitted to it within the twenty days as provided  for herein. Such guidelines may thereafter be modified by the  authority  from  time  to  time  on not less than thirty days' notice to the county  executive and the  county  executive  may  from  time  to  time  propose  modifications to the authority. Unless expressly disapproved or modified  by  the  authority  within  thirty  days  (or  such additional time, not  exceeding thirty days, as the authority shall have notified  the  county  or  covered  organization  that  it  requires to complete its review and  analysis) from the date of submission by the county executive, any  such  proposed  guidelines  or  modifications  shall be deemed approved by the  authority;    (ii) Prior to entering into any contract or other  obligation  subject  to  review  of  the  authority  under  its guidelines, the county or any  covered organization shall submit a  copy  of  such  contract  or  other  obligation  to the authority accompanied by an analysis of the projected  costs of such  contract  or  other  obligation  and  certification  that  performance  thereof  will be in accordance with the financial plan, all  in such form and with such additional information as the  authority  may  prescribe.  The  authority  shall  promptly  review  the  terms  of such  contract or other obligation and the supporting information in order  to  determine compliance with the financial plan;    (iii)  The authority shall, by order, disapprove any contract or other  obligation  reviewed  by  it  only  after  adoption  of   a   resolution  determining  that,  in its judgment, the performance of such contract or  other obligation would be inconsistent with the financial plan, and uponsuch order the county or covered organization shall not enter into  such  contract or other obligation; and    (iv)  If  the  authority  approves the terms of a reviewed contract or  other obligation, the county or covered organization may enter into such  contract or other obligation upon the terms submitted to the  authority.  Failure  of  the  authority to notify the county or covered organization  within thirty days (or such additional time, not exceeding thirty  days,  as  the authority shall have notified the county or covered organization  that it requires to complete its review and analysis)  after  submission  to  it  of  a  contract  or other obligation that such contract or other  obligation has been disapproved shall be deemed to constitute  authority  approval thereof.    (e)  The  authority  shall review the terms of each proposed long-term  and short-term borrowing by the county and any covered  organization  to  be  effected  during  any control period, and no such borrowing shall be  made during any control period unless it is approved by  the  authority.  Neither the county nor any covered organization shall be prohibited from  issuing bonds or notes to pay outstanding bonds or notes.    (f)  The  authority  shall  issue,  to the appropriate official of the  county and each covered organization, such orders as it deems  necessary  to accomplish the purposes of this title, including, but not limited to,  timely  and  satisfactory  implementation of an approved financial plan.  Any order so issued shall be binding upon the official to  whom  it  was  issued  and failure to comply with such order shall subject the official  to the penalties described in subdivision four of this section.    (g) The authority is authorized to and shall withhold any transitional  state aid and not pay such moneys  to  the  county  during  any  control  period.    3.  Authorization for wage freeze. (a) During a control period, upon a  finding by the authority that a wage freeze is essential to the adoption  or maintenance of a county  budget  or  a  financial  plan  that  is  in  compliance  with  this  title,  the  authority,  after  enactment  of  a  resolution so finding, may declare a fiscal crisis. Upon making  such  a  declaration,  the  authority  shall  be  empowered  to  order  that  all  increases in salary or wages of employees of the county and employees of  covered organizations which will take effect after the date of the order  pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, other analogous  contracts  or  interest  arbitration  awards, now in existence or hereafter entered  into, requiring such salary increases as  of  any  date  thereafter  are  suspended.  Such  order may also provide that all increased payments for  holiday  and  vacation  differentials,   shift   differentials,   salary  adjustments  according  to plan and step-ups or increments for employees  of the county and employees of covered  organizations  which  will  take  effect  after  the  date  of the order pursuant to collective bargaining  agreements, other analogous contracts  or  interest  arbitration  awards  requiring  such increased payments as of any date thereafter are, in the  same manner, suspended. For the purposes of computing the  pension  base  of retirement allowances, any suspended salary or wage increases and any  suspended other payments shall not be considered as part of compensation  or  final  compensation  or  of  annual  salary  earned or earnable. The  suspensions authorized hereunder shall continue until one year after the  date of the order and,  to  the  extent  of  any  determination  of  the  authority  that  a continuation of such suspensions, to a date specified  by the authority, is necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the  financial  plan,  such  suspensions  shall  be  continued  to  the  date  specified  by  the authority, which date shall in no event be later than  the end of the interim finance period, provided  that  such  suspensions  shall  terminate with respect to employees who have agreed to a deferralof salary or wage increase upon the certification of  the  agreement  by  the authority pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.    (b)  This  subdivision  shall  not  be  applicable to employees of the  county or employees of a covered organization covered  by  a  collective  bargaining  agreement  or  an  employee  of  the  county  or  a  covered  organization not covered by a collective bargaining agreement where  the  collective  bargaining representative or such unrepresented employee has  agreed to a deferment of salary or wage increase, by  an  instrument  in  writing which has been certified by the authority as being an acceptable  and appropriate contribution toward alleviating the fiscal crisis of the  county. Any such agreement to a deferment of salary or wage increase may  provide  that  for  the  purposes  of  computing  the  pension  base  of  retirement allowances, any deferred  salary  or  wage  increase  may  be  considered  as  part  of compensation or final compensation or of annual  salary earned or earnable.    (c) The authority may, if it finds that the  fiscal  crisis  has  been  sufficiently alleviated or for any other appropriate reason, direct that  the  suspensions  of  salary  or  wage increases or suspensions of other  increased  payments  or  benefits  shall,  in  whole  or  in  part,   be  terminated.    4.  Prohibition;  penalties.  (a)  During  any  control  period (i) no  officer or employee of the county or of any of the covered organizations  shall make or authorize an obligation or other liability  in  excess  of  the  amount  available  therefor  under  the  financial  plan as then in  effect; (ii) no officer or employee of the  county  or  of  any  of  the  covered  organizations  shall  involve  the county or any of the covered  organizations in any contract or other obligation or liability  for  the  payment  of  money  for  any  purpose  required  to  be  approved by the  authority unless such contract has been  so  approved  and  unless  such  contract  or obligation or liability is in compliance with the financial  plan as then in effect.    (b) No officer or employee  of  the  county  or  any  of  the  covered  organizations  shall  take any action in violation of any valid order of  the authority or shall fail or refuse to take any action required by any  such  order  or  shall  prepare,  present  or  certify  any  information  (including  any  projections or estimates) or report to the authority or  any of its agents that is false or misleading, or,  upon  learning  that  any  such  information  is  false  or misleading, shall fail promptly to  advise the authority or its agents thereof.    (c) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other  law,  any  officer  or  employees of the county or any of the covered organizations  who shall violate paragraph (a) or (b)  of  this  subdivision  shall  be  subject   to  appropriate  administrative  discipline,  including,  when  circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay or removal  from  office  by order of either the governor or the county executive; and any  officer or employees of the county or any of the  covered  organizations  who  shall  knowingly and willfully violate paragraph (a) or (b) of this  subdivision shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.    (d) In the case of a  violation  of  paragraph  (a)  or  (b)  of  this  subdivision  by  an  officer  or  employee  of  the county or any of the  covered organizations, the  county  executive  or  the  chief  executive  officer  of  such  covered  organization shall immediately report to the  authority all pertinent facts together with a statement  of  the  action  taken thereon.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Pba > Article-10-d > Title-1 > 3669

§ 3669. Control period. 1. The authority shall impose a control period  upon  its determination at any time that any of the following events has  occurred or that there is a substantial likelihood and imminence of such  occurrence: (a) the county shall have failed to pay the principal of  or  interest  on  any  of  its  bonds  or notes when due or payable, (b) the  county shall have incurred  a  major  operating  funds  deficit  of  one  percent  or  more  in  the aggregate results of operations of such funds  during its fiscal  year  assuming  all  revenues  and  expenditures  are  reported  in  accordance  with generally accepted accounting principles,  subject to the provisions of this  title,  (c)  the  county  shall  have  otherwise  violated  any  provision  of  this  title  and such violation  substantially impairs the marketability of the county's bonds or  notes,  (d) the chief fiscal officer's certification at any time, at the request  of  the  authority  or  on  the chief fiscal officer's initiative, which  certification  shall  be  made  from  time  to  time  as   promptly   as  circumstances  warrant  and reported to the authority, that on the basis  of facts  existing  at  such  time  such  officer  could  not  make  the  certification  described  by  paragraph  (b)  of this subdivision in the  definition of interim  finance  period  in  section  thirty-six  hundred  fifty-one of this title, or (e) the authority makes the finding required  under  paragraph  (g)  of  subdivision two of section thirty-six hundred  sixty-seven of this  title.  The  authority  shall  terminate  any  such  control  period  when  it  determines  that none of the conditions which  would permit the authority to  impose  a  control  period  exist.  After  termination  of  a  control period the authority shall annually consider  paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subdivision and determine whether, in  its judgment, any of  the  events  described  in  such  paragraphs  have  occurred  and  the  authority shall publish each such determination. Any  certification made by the chief fiscal officer hereunder shall be  based  on  such officers' written determination which shall take into account a  report and  opinion  of  an  independent  expert  in  the  marketing  of  municipal  securities selected by the authority, and the opinion of such  expert and any other information taken into account shall be made public  when delivered  to  the  authority.  Notwithstanding  any  part  of  the  foregoing to the contrary, in no event shall any control period continue  beyond  the later of (i) January first, two thousand thirty, or (ii) the  date when all  bonds  of  the  authority  are  refunded,  discharged  or  otherwise defeased.    2.  In  carrying  out  the  purposes  of this title during any control  period:    (a) The authority shall (i) consult with the county  and  the  covered  organizations  in  the preparation of the financial plan, and certify to  the county the revenue estimates approved therein,  (ii)  prescribe  the  form  of  the  financial plan and the supporting information required in  connection therewith, (iii) exercise the rights of approval, disapproval  and modification with respect to the financial plan, including  but  not  limited  to  the  revenue  estimates  contained therein, and (iv) in the  event  the  authority  has  made  the  finding  required  under  section  thirty-six  hundred  sixty-seven  of this title, formulate and adopt its  modifications to  the  financial  plan,  such  modifications  to  become  effective on their adoption by the authority.    (b)  The authority shall, from time to time and to the extent it deems  necessary or desirable in order  to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  this  title,   (i)   review   the   operations,   management,  efficiency  and  productivity of such county operations and of such covered organizations  or portions thereof as the authority may  determine,  and  make  reports  thereon;  (ii) audit compliance with the financial plan in such areas as  the authority may determine; (iii)  recommend  to  the  county  and  thecovered  organizations  such  measures  relating  to  their  operations,  management, efficiency and  productivity  as  it  deems  appropriate  to  reduce  costs and improve services so as to advance the purposes of this  title;  and (iv) obtain information on the financial condition and needs  of the county  and  the  covered  organizations.  Nothing  herein  shall  diminish  the  powers of the state comptroller otherwise provided by law  and the authority may request the assistance of the state comptroller in  the performance of the above functions.    (c) The authority shall (i) receive from the county  and  the  covered  organizations and from the state comptroller, and review, such financial  statements   and   projections,  budgetary  data  and  information,  and  management reports and materials as the  authority  deems  necessary  or  desirable  to  accomplish  the purposes of this title, and (ii) inspect,  copy and audit such books and records of  the  county  and  the  covered  organizations   as   the  authority  deems  necessary  or  desirable  to  accomplish the purposes of this title.    (d)  All  contracts  entered  into  by  the  county  or  any   covered  organization  during  any  control  period  must  be consistent with the  provisions of this title and must comply with the  requirements  of  the  financial  plan  as  approved  by  the  authority.  With  respect to all  contracts or other obligations to be entered into by the county  or  any  covered  organization during any control period requiring the payment of  funds  or  the  incurring  of  costs  by  the  county  or  any   covered  organizations:    (i)  Within twenty days from the commencement of a control period, the  county executive shall present  to  the  authority  proposed  guidelines  respecting  the  categories and types of contracts and other obligations  required to be reviewed by the authority pursuant to  this  subdivision.  Any  such  guidelines  may  provide a different standard for review with  respect to contracts of any covered organization as the authority  shall  determine. Within thirty days from the commencement of a control period,  the  authority  shall  approve  or  modify  and  approve  such  proposed  guidelines or promulgate  its  own  in  the  event  that  such  proposed  guidelines  are  not  submitted to it within the twenty days as provided  for herein. Such guidelines may thereafter be modified by the  authority  from  time  to  time  on not less than thirty days' notice to the county  executive and the  county  executive  may  from  time  to  time  propose  modifications to the authority. Unless expressly disapproved or modified  by  the  authority  within  thirty  days  (or  such additional time, not  exceeding thirty days, as the authority shall have notified  the  county  or  covered  organization  that  it  requires to complete its review and  analysis) from the date of submission by the county executive, any  such  proposed  guidelines  or  modifications  shall be deemed approved by the  authority;    (ii) Prior to entering into any contract or other  obligation  subject  to  review  of  the  authority  under  its guidelines, the county or any  covered organization shall submit a  copy  of  such  contract  or  other  obligation  to the authority accompanied by an analysis of the projected  costs of such  contract  or  other  obligation  and  certification  that  performance  thereof  will be in accordance with the financial plan, all  in such form and with such additional information as the  authority  may  prescribe.  The  authority  shall  promptly  review  the  terms  of such  contract or other obligation and the supporting information in order  to  determine compliance with the financial plan;    (iii)  The authority shall, by order, disapprove any contract or other  obligation  reviewed  by  it  only  after  adoption  of   a   resolution  determining  that,  in its judgment, the performance of such contract or  other obligation would be inconsistent with the financial plan, and uponsuch order the county or covered organization shall not enter into  such  contract or other obligation; and    (iv)  If  the  authority  approves the terms of a reviewed contract or  other obligation, the county or covered organization may enter into such  contract or other obligation upon the terms submitted to the  authority.  Failure  of  the  authority to notify the county or covered organization  within thirty days (or such additional time, not exceeding thirty  days,  as  the authority shall have notified the county or covered organization  that it requires to complete its review and analysis)  after  submission  to  it  of  a  contract  or other obligation that such contract or other  obligation has been disapproved shall be deemed to constitute  authority  approval thereof.    (e)  The  authority  shall review the terms of each proposed long-term  and short-term borrowing by the county and any covered  organization  to  be  effected  during  any control period, and no such borrowing shall be  made during any control period unless it is approved by  the  authority.  Neither the county nor any covered organization shall be prohibited from  issuing bonds or notes to pay outstanding bonds or notes.    (f)  The  authority  shall  issue,  to the appropriate official of the  county and each covered organization, such orders as it deems  necessary  to accomplish the purposes of this title, including, but not limited to,  timely  and  satisfactory  implementation of an approved financial plan.  Any order so issued shall be binding upon the official to  whom  it  was  issued  and failure to comply with such order shall subject the official  to the penalties described in subdivision four of this section.    (g) The authority is authorized to and shall withhold any transitional  state aid and not pay such moneys  to  the  county  during  any  control  period.    3.  Authorization for wage freeze. (a) During a control period, upon a  finding by the authority that a wage freeze is essential to the adoption  or maintenance of a county  budget  or  a  financial  plan  that  is  in  compliance  with  this  title,  the  authority,  after  enactment  of  a  resolution so finding, may declare a fiscal crisis. Upon making  such  a  declaration,  the  authority  shall  be  empowered  to  order  that  all  increases in salary or wages of employees of the county and employees of  covered organizations which will take effect after the date of the order  pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, other analogous  contracts  or  interest  arbitration  awards, now in existence or hereafter entered  into, requiring such salary increases as  of  any  date  thereafter  are  suspended.  Such  order may also provide that all increased payments for  holiday  and  vacation  differentials,   shift   differentials,   salary  adjustments  according  to plan and step-ups or increments for employees  of the county and employees of covered  organizations  which  will  take  effect  after  the  date  of the order pursuant to collective bargaining  agreements, other analogous contracts  or  interest  arbitration  awards  requiring  such increased payments as of any date thereafter are, in the  same manner, suspended. For the purposes of computing the  pension  base  of retirement allowances, any suspended salary or wage increases and any  suspended other payments shall not be considered as part of compensation  or  final  compensation  or  of  annual  salary  earned or earnable. The  suspensions authorized hereunder shall continue until one year after the  date of the order and,  to  the  extent  of  any  determination  of  the  authority  that  a continuation of such suspensions, to a date specified  by the authority, is necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the  financial  plan,  such  suspensions  shall  be  continued  to  the  date  specified  by  the authority, which date shall in no event be later than  the end of the interim finance period, provided  that  such  suspensions  shall  terminate with respect to employees who have agreed to a deferralof salary or wage increase upon the certification of  the  agreement  by  the authority pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.    (b)  This  subdivision  shall  not  be  applicable to employees of the  county or employees of a covered organization covered  by  a  collective  bargaining  agreement  or  an  employee  of  the  county  or  a  covered  organization not covered by a collective bargaining agreement where  the  collective  bargaining representative or such unrepresented employee has  agreed to a deferment of salary or wage increase, by  an  instrument  in  writing which has been certified by the authority as being an acceptable  and appropriate contribution toward alleviating the fiscal crisis of the  county. Any such agreement to a deferment of salary or wage increase may  provide  that  for  the  purposes  of  computing  the  pension  base  of  retirement allowances, any deferred  salary  or  wage  increase  may  be  considered  as  part  of compensation or final compensation or of annual  salary earned or earnable.    (c) The authority may, if it finds that the  fiscal  crisis  has  been  sufficiently alleviated or for any other appropriate reason, direct that  the  suspensions  of  salary  or  wage increases or suspensions of other  increased  payments  or  benefits  shall,  in  whole  or  in  part,   be  terminated.    4.  Prohibition;  penalties.  (a)  During  any  control  period (i) no  officer or employee of the county or of any of the covered organizations  shall make or authorize an obligation or other liability  in  excess  of  the  amount  available  therefor  under  the  financial  plan as then in  effect; (ii) no officer or employee of the  county  or  of  any  of  the  covered  organizations  shall  involve  the county or any of the covered  organizations in any contract or other obligation or liability  for  the  payment  of  money  for  any  purpose  required  to  be  approved by the  authority unless such contract has been  so  approved  and  unless  such  contract  or obligation or liability is in compliance with the financial  plan as then in effect.    (b) No officer or employee  of  the  county  or  any  of  the  covered  organizations  shall  take any action in violation of any valid order of  the authority or shall fail or refuse to take any action required by any  such  order  or  shall  prepare,  present  or  certify  any  information  (including  any  projections or estimates) or report to the authority or  any of its agents that is false or misleading, or,  upon  learning  that  any  such  information  is  false  or misleading, shall fail promptly to  advise the authority or its agents thereof.    (c) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other  law,  any  officer  or  employees of the county or any of the covered organizations  who shall violate paragraph (a) or (b)  of  this  subdivision  shall  be  subject   to  appropriate  administrative  discipline,  including,  when  circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay or removal  from  office  by order of either the governor or the county executive; and any  officer or employees of the county or any of the  covered  organizations  who  shall  knowingly and willfully violate paragraph (a) or (b) of this  subdivision shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.    (d) In the case of a  violation  of  paragraph  (a)  or  (b)  of  this  subdivision  by  an  officer  or  employee  of  the county or any of the  covered organizations, the  county  executive  or  the  chief  executive  officer  of  such  covered  organization shall immediately report to the  authority all pertinent facts together with a statement  of  the  action  taken thereon.