Prior to serving as the Executive Director of the Commission on
Local Government Efficiency, John Clarkson served at the State
Comptroller's Office from 1995 to 2006. As Assistant Comptroller for the
Division of Local Government Services and Economic Development (2003-06), he
oversaw policy and intergovernmental relations, local official training and
financial monitoring operations. In this role, he created a new local
government research operation which produced respected reports on issues such
as property taxes, urban fiscal distress, revenue sharing, local Medicaid
costs, cooperation/consolidation, smart growth, and outdated municipal
structures.
Clarkson also developed and oversaw policy initiatives in areas including
school financial accountability, IDA reform, fire district accountability and
justice court structural improvements. In previous roles in the
Comptroller's Office, he was responsible for research on state budget and
education issues. He served for 11 years in the NYS Division of the Budget
as a budget analyst, revenue forecaster and press officer, and has worked at
the New York State School Boards Association and the Office of Real Property
Services.