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Statement
Transportation
Statement on Congestion Pricing and Funding Discussions in Albany
June 07, 2024
New York should not vie for the triple crown of bad governing—knee jerk reaction, shortsighted fiscal maneuvers, and a backroom deal outside the budget process.
Statement
Transportation
Statement on Congestion Pricing
Stay the Course; Critical Needs to Ensure State of Good Repair
June 05, 2024
Congestion pricing is the transit trifecta—providing critical funding for transit, reducing emissions, and easing congestion. We should stay the course.
Testimony
Transportation
CBC Urges MTA to Publish TYNA Addendum Detailing Costs, Benefits of State of Good Repair Projects
Submitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
May 22, 2024
CBC again urges the MTA to publish an addendum—prior to the release of the capital program—that includes detailed estimates of the costs, benefits, and timelines, for all assets and investment needs in the categories of “Rebuild” and “Improve” the system, including those that bring assets to and keep the system in a state of good repair.
Statement
State Budget
Statement on Medicaid/Managed Care Tax Proposal in NYS Budget Talks
March 26, 2024
The proposal to levy a new tax on Medicaid and other managed care plans to leverage $4 billion of federal money relies on speculative, temporary revenue to seed permanent spending increases.
Testimony
Transportation
Public Comment on the Proposed Structure For the Central Business District Tolling Program
Submitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
February 29, 2024
While the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) has long held the position that there should not be credits for bridge or tunnel crossings, we believe the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s (TMRB) congestion pricing toll recommendations, as a whole, are reasonable.
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.
Op Ed
Health Care
Improving Medicaid Further In New York Is Challenging But Vital
June 20, 2016
The State’s Department of Health and its Medicaid Redesign Team have developed and implemented strategies that have yielded significant quality improvements and savings, but much more is needed.
Op Ed
City Budget
A Mixed Budget Message
May 02, 2016
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s executive budget and accompanying four-year financial plan send a mixed message about New York City’s fiscal outlook. For the short term, economic performance and local revenues are exceeding expectations this year.
Op Ed
State Budget
What Will Be The Long-Term Impact Of The State Budget Agreement?
April 03, 2016
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget projected out-year deficits of $1.2 billion, $3 billion and $3.4 billion in state fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020 (before unspecified savings associated with adherence to a 2 percent state operating spending growth cap).
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations on the FY 2017 Executive Budget
February 25, 2016
CBC offers recommendations for legislative action on the Governor’s Executive Budget for fiscal year 2017. The recommendations cover four proposals that deserve support, five proposals that should be modified, and four proposals that should be rejected.
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.
Statement
Transportation
Statement on MTA Funding Agreement
October 09, 2015
The announcement of an agreement for funding the MTA’s 2015-2019 capital plan is an important step in maintaining and enhancing the region’s most vital transportation assets. However, additional steps must be taken.
Op Ed
Transportation
Funding the MTA Capital Plan: Avoiding a False Choice
July 30, 2015
Funding the next five-year capital plan for the MTA is a priority for the NYC region, and fortunately the funding gap has narrowed. The real question should be: how much funding should come from motorists versus taxpayers and commuters?
Statement
Transportation
Statement Regarding Ongoing Discussions of MTA Capital Plan
July 24, 2015
Debating how to apportion funding for the remaining $9.8 billion gap between “the City” and “the State” is counterproductive. Funding for mass transit should be defined as coming from three sources: fares, tax subsidies, and motor vehicle cross-subsidies.
Letter
Transportation
CBC Encourages Governor Cuomo to Veto Costly Free Transfers
July 13, 2015
This letter urges rejecting a bill (A2607/S3228) that would cost the MTA $40 million annually.
Op Ed
Transportation
How to Pay for the MTA
May 22, 2015
The MTA is vital to the region’s economic well-being. Its mass transit services, seven bridges, and two tunnels comprise a $1 trillion asset.
Testimony
Capital Spending
Testimony On Ten-Year Capital Strategy and Capital Budget
Delivered to NY City Council Committee on Finance
May 18, 2015
The Mayor's Ten-Year Capital Strategy totals $83.8 billion- a $30 billion increase from the prior plan. CBC has two main concerns about the Strategy: there is insufficient information available to judge the investments, and the investments will add to the City’s high debt burden.
Op Ed
Transportation
To Fund The Subways, Charge Drivers More
And A Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Tax Should Be Part Of The Equation
April 02, 2015
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority needs about $32 billion over the next five years to repair, replace and improve its facilities, notably the vast and essential mass transit system. It only has about $13 billion. The $19 billion hole requires a new way of thinking about how we fund mass transit.
Op Ed
Transportation
Port Authority's Brooklyn Port Facilities Should Be Reimagined
February 02, 2015
The port of New York-New Jersey is the largest container port on the East Coast. It's publicly owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and it consistently loses money ($82 million in 2013).
Op Ed
State Budget
Ten Key Takeaways from Governor Cuomo's Executive Budget
January 28, 2015
Last week, Citizens Budget Commission listed the Top Ten Things to Look for in the NYS 2016 Budget. Here is how they fared in the Executive Budget Proposal outlined by Governor Cuomo on January 21.