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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.
Testimony
Education
Testimony on the Distribution of the Foundation Aid Formula as it Relates to Pupil and District Needs
December 03, 2019
Despite significant increases in state aid and local revenues, not all districts have the resources to provide a sound basic education, and some wealthy districts have more than needed.
Statement
Health Care
Statement on Medicaid Payment Delays in the New York State Budget
October 03, 2019
CBC President Andrew S. Rein released this statement on the Medicaid Payment Delays in the New York State Budget: "The State making an end of fiscal year 2019 Medicaid payment a week late was no mere delay. It was an obfuscation of the State’s fiscal condition, allowing the State to avoid addressing a deep and recurring problem."
Testimony
Education
Testimony to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
June 12, 2019
Despite significant increases in state aid and local revenues—not all districts have the resources to provide a sound basic education in 2020.
Testimony
Health Care
Testimony on the New York Health Act (A5248/S3577)
Submitted to The Joint Senate and Assembly Standing Committee on Health
May 27, 2019
Although NYHA’s goals are laudable, it is not feasible currently and would have significant unintended and possibly negative impacts on the State budget and some New Yorkers.
Op Ed
Education
No, New York Shouldn't Add Billions in New Education Funding
What the state really needs to do is focus aid on districts that need it
March 11, 2019
Albany should target the distribution of school aid to districts that need it, rather than ensure that almost every district gets more no matter its circumstance.
Statement
Health Care
Statement on the New York Health Act
February 11, 2019
The revised version of the New York Health Act (NYHA) released today is a well-intentioned proposal to continue to increase access to insurance coverage and reduce barriers to quality health care for New Yorkers, but currently it is not a feasible measure.
Testimony
Education
State Education Aid Proposal for 2019-2020
Testimony Submitted to a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Education
February 06, 2019
In the aggregate New York State spends enough to provide all students with a sound basic education; however, State school aid is not targeted well enough to achieve this goal in all districts.
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.
Testimony
Education
Public Comment on School Planning and Siting Process
Submitted to the NYC Council Working Group on School Planning, Siting, and Overcrowding
May 24, 2017
CBC offers two recommendations for improving the school planning and siting process: maximize use of existing capacity, and target new capacity to areas with the highest need.
Op Ed
City Budget
End de Blasio’s giveaway to bus companies
May 09, 2017
The program was bad policy from the outset-- and was extended for a third year. The City Council should defund it when the budget is adopted.
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.
Statement
Health Care
Statement on the "Collins Amendment"
March 22, 2017
The recent addition of the “Collins Amendment” to the House of Representatives’ American Health Care Act provides a strong incentive for New York’s Governor and Legislature to eliminate the mandated local share of Medicaid costs, a policy change long advocated by the Citizens Budget Commission.
Op Ed
Education
Fix NY's broken formula for distributing school aid
March 22, 2017
How much more funding should New York state provide to Syracuse public schools? A report by the Citizens Budget Commission, for which I was the primary author, says that an increase of $83 million is needed for the City of Syracuse school district.
Op Ed
Education
How Much More State Education Funding Is Needed?
March 08, 2017
With reforms to the way funding is distributed, the State can fund a "sound, basic education" with $569 million more in annual funding.
Testimony
City Budget
Comments on Proposed Small Business Services Rule on Bus Contracts
Pursuant to Section 1301 of the New York City Charter
January 30, 2017
CBC opposes extending the Department of Small Business Services program providing grants to companies that provide school bus transportation in order to maintain the wages and benefits of certain employees for a third year.
Op Ed
Health Care
Fiscal Challenges for NYC's Health and Hospitals Corporation
November 10, 2014
In fiscal year 2013, the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) ran a deficit of $668 million. Final numbers for fiscal year 2014 have not been released, but the estimated deficit is $645 million.
Statement
Education
Statement Urging City Council to Reject Proposed Grants for School Transportation Employees
August 20, 2014
The City Council should reject proposed legislation that would provide grants to pay higher wages and benefits to certain school transportation service employees than those required by the City's contracts with the private bus companies that employ them.