"By promoting financial and ethical responsibility for all elected officials and committing to meaningful change, Citizens Budget Commission has enriched our democratic society and the quality of life for all citizens." State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli
The fiscal realities of the time have not deterred the Legislature from advancing dozens of bills enhancing benefits for State and local employees and retirees. The CBC has been tracking the progress of 25 of these bills on its annual Sweetener Scorecard.
CBC President Carol Kellermann explains how the State can cut spending equitably in the three largest areas of the budget: Medicaid, education, and employee benefits.
A comparative analysis of the 50 states indicates that New York's debt burden is in a "danger zone;" it is well above national averages and greater than that of all but three states. As a result New Yorkers are currently paying about $5.6 billion in debt service, and in four years the state's credit card obligation will be over $7.1 billion or one of every ten dollars paid in taxes.
CBC released a report on New York State's debt burden, which raises serious concerns about the existing levels of debt and comes at a time when the State is considering ways of addressing a budget gap of more than $9 billion.
This op-ed explains that the state can no longer tax and borrow its way out of the current economic crisis and remain competitive as a place to live, work and do business. Spending cuts are required, and they won't be easy.
This letter from the CBC notifies the Legislature that it has issued a "Pension Sweetener Scorecard" that will track legislative and gubernatorial actions regarding pension benefits and highlight those actions for the media and the public.
This testimony by CBC Deputy Research Director Elizabeth Lynam highlights CBC’s work on fiscal reform and shares thoughts and recommendations on the work of the Senate Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform.
