government finances

DEAR RUSTY: The Social Security program is funded by employees and their employers. The federal government does not contribute to the program, right? ...

OLEAN — A stroke of a pen is hoped for later this year to allow a city tax on hotel, motel and other short-term rentals. A bill passed by the state Le...

The State of New York has spent $40 million on its County-Wide Shared Service Initiative, which appears to exist for the explicit purpose of eliminati...

America’s 50 state governments will need an extra $811 billion to pay off their current debt, according to the annual “ State of the States ” report f...

ALBANY — New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul received a failing grade on fiscal restraint from a libertarian think-tank, which criticized her for ...

DEAR RUSTY: I just turned 69 years old in August and am still working full-time. I signed up for Medicare Part A but, it is my secondary insurance bec...

NEW YORK (TNS) — Social Security revealed plans for 2025 — including raising the amount of money that you can be taxed on each year. Average wages sub...

ELLICOTTVILLE — The developers of three projects worth over $12.5 million in the southeast corner of Cattaraugus County are seeking tax breaks. The Ca...

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social S...

The Biden-Harris administration is set to eclipse the $1 trillion mark in improper payments, a new record for wasted money in a four-year term, accord...

DEAR RUSTY: I claimed Social Security at 70. My wife claimed her own SS at 62, and her earnings were significantly lower than mine. I understand my wi...

Recently I noted how the latest statewide poll from the Siena College Research Institute included a finding that less than one-third of New Yorkers th...

An annual report from the Government Accountability Office has saved taxpayers $667.5 billion over the last 14 years, but Congress and federal agencie...

ALBANY — The latest round of health insurance premium hikes announced by New York regulators adds to evidence that state policies are drowning consume...

DEAR RUSTY: My financial advisor used a computer program which told my husband to take his SS at age 68, then suspend it after a few months. What I un...

Most local taxing authorities saw higher sales taxes in August compared to the year before, state officials said Tuesday. State Comptroller Thomas DiN...

HUMPHREY — The Humphrey Town Board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at the town hall, 4500 Humphrey Road, to discuss Local Law No. 1 for 2...

DEAR RUSTY: In November I will be 60 and eligible for widow’s benefits. My late husband’s Social Security was approximately $2,300 when he passed arou...