N.Y. Public Lands Law § 59-a

§ 59-a. Disposition of proceeds. The proceeds from a sale or grant of\nsuch lands shall be applied first to repay any expenditures made by the\noffice of general services from moneys appropriated to said office in\nthe first instance for the administration, management, utilization and\ndisposal of real property of the state and any rights or interests\ntherein and any balance of such moneys remaining after repayment of the\nfirst instance expenditures shall be applied to the cost of the\nimprovement which renders such lands no longer necessary, and the\nexpenses incurred by the attorney general for searches and examination\nof the title to such lands shall be deemed an item of the cost of\nimprovement. Any surplus from the sale of abandoned lands above the\ncost of the entire improvement shall be applied to the sinking fund for\nthe payment of the improvement bonds.\n