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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
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.
Op Ed
State Budget
No More Aid for the Affluent
March 27, 2010
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.
Op Ed
Education
What Mike Must Get From Teachers
January 31, 2010
President Carol Kellermann outlines what Mayor Bloomberg must accomplish in his negotiations with the Teachers' Union in order to get the vital reforms needed to fix the school system.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
NYC's Gold-Plated Worker Perks
December 20, 2009
CBC President Carol Kellermann discusses a new survey from the CBC and the Partnership for New York City that reveals that municipal employee pension and health-insurance benefits are out of balance with the job market.
Testimony
State Budget
Testimony on Improving the State Budgetary Process
Delivered to the Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform
December 17, 2009
In this testimony the CBC assesses the effectiveness of provisions in the New York State Budget Reform Act of 2007 and makes additional recommendations for improving transparency, forecasting, and flexibility.
Testimony
Transportation
Testimony on 2010 MTA Capital Plan
Delivered to State Senate Standing Committees
December 03, 2009
Testimony before the New York State Senate Standing Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Investigations and Government Operations on the MTA's 2010-2014 capital plan.
Op Ed
State Budget
New York Must Slash Spending
It's the State's Only Way Out of this Huge, Growing Budget Hole
October 14, 2009
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.
Testimony
Transportation
Testimony on Challenges Facing the MTA
Submitted to Senate Finance Committee
September 03, 2009
Testimony of CBC President Carol Kellermann to the New York State Senate Finance Committee regarding the critical challenges that will face the MTA in the coming years, including balancing the MTA's operating budget, financing new capital investments, and planning and implementing capital projects.
Op Ed
State Budget
Bolster Budget
Pare Spending, Reform Pensions, Protect MTA
July 26, 2009
This op-ed was the CBC's contribution to a series of short op-ed's submitted by advocates around the state to Crain's New York Business. Here the CBC strikes at the core issues that severely impact the State's budget.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Commends Legislators Who Voted Against Postponing Pension Contributions
July 14, 2009
CBC commends legislators for voting against A9037/S52204, a bill that would have allowed state and local governments to postpone paying the full required annual contributions to their employee pension funds.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Encourages Legislatures to Avoid Pension Sweetener Legislation
June 02, 2009
This letter notifies the Legislature that the CBC has issued a "Pension Sweetener Scorecard" that tracks legislative and gubernatorial actions regarding pension benefits and highlights those actions for the media and the public. These sweeteners are often enacted over the objections of elected heads of local governments and always at the expense of taxpayers.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Urges the Governor to Veto a Benefit Sweetener for Police and Firefighters
May 29, 2009
This letter from the CBC urges the Governor to veto A3426/S1409, a bill that would extend Tier II provisions to all police officers and firefighters who join a public retirement system on or after July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2011.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Urges Governor Paterson to Veto Costly Mandate for Retired Teachers
May 12, 2009
This letter from the CBC urges the Governor to veto A4628, a bill that would renew the provision that prohibits school districts from reducing the health insurance benefits offered to retirees unless the changes are approved by the local teachers union.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Pension Poison Pills
April 06, 2009
This op-ed, released in conjunction with the report “The Explosion in Pension Costs: 10 Things New Yorkers Should Know About Retirement Benefits for New York City Employees,” highlights facts that taxpayers should know about the cost of retirement benefits for New York City employees.
Testimony
Taxes
Testimony on NY State Tax System
Delivered to the Senate Committee on Budget and Tax Reform
March 12, 2009
This testimony emphasizes two key points about New York’s personal income tax (PIT) and offers a framework for thinking about tax reform in the current fiscal context: 1) New York’s PIT is progressive, but its overall tax structure is not; and 2) New York’s economic competitiveness should be an important factor in considering changes to its tax rates.