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Letter
State Budget
New York State Should Responsibly Address Serious Fiscal Imbalance
A Letter to Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie
December 10, 2019
The Citizens Budget Commission welcomes the recognition that the State must immediately address its serious fiscal imbalance.
Testimony
Taxes
Comments on New York City Property Tax Reform
December 04, 2019
The balancing act facing legislators as they consider proposals to reform the property tax is how to increase equity, fairness, and transparency, while maintaining fiscal stability and reliability.
Letter
Public Workforce
CBC Urges Governor to Veto Bill Increasing NYC School Bus Contract Costs
November 19, 2019
CBC urges Governor Cuomo to veto A7749/S6208, which would impose costly restrictions on school bus contracts in NYC.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Urges Veto of 18 Benefit Sweeteners
A Letter to the Governor
October 18, 2019
The Governor should veto all 18 bills and send a strong message that past reforms will not be overturned.
Statement
Taxes
CBC Convenes Special Committee to Focus on Federal Tax Cuts
December 21, 2017
The Special Committee consists of CBC trustees, civic leaders, and policy experts, and will identify the greatest impacts and options for appropriate state and local government action.
Op Ed
State Budget
Repeal the Film Tax Credit, But Don't Expect Savings Just Yet
Even if this wasteful program is killed in 2018, its expenditures will continue for years
December 13, 2017
The Citizens Budget Commission is a long-time critic of the New York State Film Tax Credit program and supports its repeal. However, due to some unusual provisions of state tax law, repeal of the credit will not yield immediate state savings.
Letter
State Budget
CBC Urges Governor to Veto Expensive Benefit Sweeteners
October 12, 2017
CBC calls on Governor Andrew Cuomo to veto 16 bills that would provide expensive enhancements to government employee and retiree benefits.
Statement
Taxes
Statement on Property Tax Lawsuit
April 25, 2017
A judicial review based on objective evidence presented in a public forum can be a catalyst for constructive change of the seriously flawed NYC property tax.
Letter
Economic Development
CBC Encourages Governor Cuomo to Veto New Tax Credits for Music and Digital Gaming Media Production
November 17, 2016
This bill would create new tax credits for music production and digital gaming media production, with both credits costing $25 million annually for the next three years. The total cost is estimated to be $150 million.
Testimony
Pensions & Benefits
Testimony on Health Care Savings Under Recent Collective Bargaining Agreements
Delivered to NYC Council Committees on Finance and Civil Service
February 26, 2016
CBC has been monitoring New York City's efforts to find health savings. CBC has long advocated negotiating changes to health insurance as part of collective bargaining and applauded the labor-management agreement that committed to meet annual savings targets.
Testimony
Taxes
Testimony on Flaws in New York City's Real Property Taxation System
Submitted to the NYS Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation
January 22, 2016
The two most significant issues are: 1) among residential properties, rental buildings are taxed more heavily than single family homes, and 2) within the two subgroups of residential properties—small homes and large rental buildings—property tax rates vary widely.
Letter
Taxes
CBC Recommendations to the New York State Tax Relief Commission
November 26, 2013
This letter to the NYS Tax Relief Commission includes cautions about the State's ability to commit to large new property tax relief programs, and recommendations for providing better relief with the $4 billion the State spends on current programs.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
The Next Mayor's Biggest Challenge
May 19, 2013
As the New York City mayor's race builds momentum, candidates are discussing a wide range of issues - but not how they would tackle the biggest challenge the next mayor will certainly face: negotiating municipal labor contracts.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
Finding a Better Way on Labor Bargaining
May 18, 2013
Taxpayers are at a disadvantage in collective bargaining with police and firefighter unions in New York state because of the way binding arbitration is done. The culprits are provisions of a statute, known as the Taylor Law, that expire July 1.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Reining in New York City's Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs
April 17, 2013
The City's employee unions, whose contracts have expired, may prefer to wait and negotiate with the next mayor, but the election won't change the fiscal reality: the City's share of health insurance premiums for city workers and retirees is high in comparison to norms in the private and public sectors.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
City Workers, Pay Your Share
February 03, 2013
The cost of health insurance for New York City public employees and retirees is projected to grow by almost 40% by 2016 — rising to nearly $7 billion a year. That growth will amount to $1.5 billion of the $1.9 billion budget deficit projected for 2016.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on the NYC Executive Budget for FY2013
To NY City Council Committee on Finance
June 06, 2012
First, the Council should focus on structural changes to municipal finances that will make budgeting easier in future years. Second, the Council should phase out the unusual practice of reimbursing retired municipal workers for their Medicare Part B premiums.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Sneak Labor Giveaway
May 05, 2012
Across New York, the cost of health benefits for retired government employees is growing so rapidly that it threatens to crowd out funding for essential government services. Rather than lay off police or close libraries, public officials may want to use their discretion to alter retiree health insurance — but some state legislators are trying to take away that discretion.
Statement
Public Workforce
Statement on Tier VI Reforms
March 14, 2012
The bill that passed both houses of the State Legislature early this morning included important, beneficial changes in most components of the pension formulas that will determine benefits for future employees.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
New York State’s Pension Plan
March 12, 2012
Deferrals of pension fund contributions by New York State and localities relies on unconvincing arguments by the State Comptroller that the plan is justified by the need for short-term relief from rising pension costs and that it is transparent.