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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?
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Fringe Benefits Challenge New York School Budgets
July 20, 2015
The problems facing school districts are complex, but one common challenge is the unrelenting rise in fringe benefit costs.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Encourages Governor Cuomo to Veto Four Pension Sweeteners
July 13, 2015
This letter calls for vetoing four pension sweeteners (A7490/S3010, A6771A/S4907, A5327C/S3948B, and A7547/S5785) that would begin to undo savings from hard-won pension reforms.
Letter
Economic Development
CBC Urges Governor Cuomo to Improve Practices of Industrial Development Agencies
July 13, 2015
This letter calls on the Governor to sign A7915/S5867, which would improve the effectiveness of millions of dollars in tax breaks awarded by Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs).
Statement
State Budget
Statement on New York State End of Session Agreement
June 25, 2015
The resolution (albeit short term for some) of several issues of great importance to New York - 421a, rent regulation, the property tax cap, and mayoral control of schools - is welcome news. However, the last minute addition of large spending commitments is fiscally troubling.
Op Ed
City Budget
New York City Should Be Cautious About Increasing Its Debt
June 16, 2015
New York City has more outstanding debt than ever before, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed a 10-year capital plan that will increase it substantially.
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.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony Examining Health Care Savings Under Recent Collective Bargaining Agreements
Delivered to the NYC Council Committee on Finance
April 01, 2015
Savings that would have normally been reserved for general budget needs—such as funding libraries or maintaining public parks—and are attributable to a national slowdown in health care costs, are now being credited to the health savings agreement.
Op Ed
Economic Development
What's the Return on Investment for New York's Economic Development Efforts?
March 22, 2015
New York State's economic development programs have long been the subject of debate because it is difficult to measure the benefits they produce. Are the State's considerable investments worthwhile? Although their political value is clear, their economic value is not.
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations on the FY 2016 Executive Budget
February 25, 2015
CBC's recommendations to the State legislature cover six proposals that deserve support, three proposals that should be improved, and three proposals that should be rejected.
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.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
NY Needs Real Pension Reform
December 07, 2010
Senior Research Associate Maria Doulis pens an op-ed on the need to reform public employee pensions that costs state and local governments nearly $1.5 billion.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
City Worker Pensions Vs. Kids
Bloomy Must Cut Youth Services Because Adult Costs Are Out Of Control
December 04, 2010
New York provides a troubling example of how the inability to contain costs associated with a large municipal workforce imposes a greater burden on the most vulnerable populations, notably low-income children.
Op Ed
State Budget
Fill the Gaps: End Protected Overspending
November 07, 2010
CBC President Carol Kellermann offers advise to the upcoming Cuomo administration on the State budget, namely to end overspending in the areas of school aid, Medicaid and employee compensation.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Encourages Governor Paterson to Veto Benefit Sweeteners
July 22, 2010
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. Three were already sent to you for consideration this week; another will be shortly. We are writing to ask that you veto them.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Sickening 'Sweeteners'
June 28, 2010
Pension contributions this year will cost the state government alone $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2010-11 -- an amount already set to grow 85 percent, to $3.2 billion, by 2014. How much higher must it go before the Legislature puts the taxpayers ahead of special interests?
Op Ed
Economic Development
NY Needs to Create Jobs
June 02, 2010
Deputy Research Director Elizabeth Lynam penned an op-ed in the Albany Times Union that advocates for the overhaul of the State's economic development programs in order to capture true job creation with scarce resources.
Letter
Economic Development
CBC Urges the State Legislature to Let the Empire Zones Program Sunset
April 12, 2010
This letter was written to urge the State legislature to allow the seriously flawed Empire Zones program to sunset as of June 30, 2010, as established by law, and to enact the Excelsior program as proposed by the Governor.
Op Ed
City Budget
Time for Prudence in City Benefits
April 10, 2010
Executive Vice President and Director of Research Charles Brecher pens this op-ed that discusses ways to rein in growth of the City's retirement benefits, notably pensions and health insurance.