About TFA

About TFA


The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability in Staten Island

The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability in Staten Island, the first net-zero energy school in the North East, courtesy of Stark Video - SOM Architects LLP.

The TFA is a public benefit corporation whose primary purpose is to finance a portion of New York City’s capital program. The New York State Legislature approved the law authorizing the creation of the NYC Transitional Finance Authority on March 5, 1997 (Chapter 16 of the Laws of 1997, the “Act”). The Act included governance by a Board of five directors consisting of the following officials of the City: the Director of Management & Budget (who also serves as Chairperson), the Commissioner of Finance, the Commissioner of Design & Construction, the Comptroller, and the Speaker of the City Council.

The Act has been amended several times to increase the amount of debt the TFA is authorized to issue. Most recently, the Act was amended in 2024, and permits the TFA to have outstanding $21.5 billion of Future Tax Secured Bonds (including Senior Bonds and Parity Debt) outstanding as of July 1, 2024, with such amount increasing to $27.5 billion as of July 1, 2025. In addition, the TFA may issue additional Future Tax Secured Bonds provided that the amount of such additional bonds, together with the amount of indebtedness contracted by the City of New York, does not exceed the debt limit of the City of New York.

In addition, legislation enacted in April 2006 enables the Authority to have outstanding up to $9.4 billion of bonds, notes or other obligations for purposes of funding costs of the five-year educational facilities capital plan for the City school system, which are to be paid for from New York State Building Aid to be received by the Authority subject to annual appropriation by the New York State Legislature.

Visit the TFA website (note: a new browser window will open).