<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>  6
           
<CIK>        0000764860
             
<NAME>  FLAGSHIP NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT FUND
                                     
<SERIES>
                                     
<NUMBER>                             133
                                     
<NAME>                               CLASS C
                                     
<MULTIPLIER>                         1
                                     
       
                                     
<S>                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    OTHER
                                 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                MAY-31-1997
                                 
<PERIOD-START>                   MAR-04-1996
                                 
<PERIOD-END>                     NOV-30-1996
                                 
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>            50,036,611
                                 
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>           53,534,211
                                 
<RECEIVABLES>                    1,071,452
                                 
<ASSETS-OTHER>                   7,106
                                 
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>             0
                                 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                   54,612,769
                                 
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>         0
                                 
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>          0
                                 
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>        504,205
                                 
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>              504,205
                                 
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                  0
                                 
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>         51,735,954
                                 
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>            220,382
                                  
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>             60,603
                                  
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>         0
                                  
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>            (11,969)
                                  
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>           (1,113,021)
                                  
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>          0
                                  
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>          3,497,600
                                  
<NET-ASSETS>                      54,108,564
                                  
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                 0
                                  
<INTEREST-INCOME>                 1,627,368
                                  
<OTHER-INCOME>                    0
                                  
<EXPENSES-NET>                    (193,351)
                                  
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>           1,434,017
                                  
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>          (15,630)
                                  
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>         2,090,103
                                  
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>             3,508,490
                                  
<EQUALIZATION>                    0
                                  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>         (40,657)
                                  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>          0
                                  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>             0
                                  
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>           160,392
                                  
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>       (2,061)
                                  
<SHARES-REINVESTED>               1,448
                                  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>            1,761,557
                                  
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>           0
                                  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>         (1,097,391)
                                  
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>           0
                                  
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>        0
                                  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>             131,017
                                  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                0
                                  
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                   326,585
                                  
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>              52,263,677
                                  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>             10.45
                                  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                   0.26
                                  
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>           0.42
                                  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>              (0.26)
                                  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>         0.00
                                  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>              0.00
                                  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>               10.87
                                  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                   1.22
                                  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>            99,900
                                  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>              0.00
                                  
        







</TABLE>