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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.
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.
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
More Bang For NY's Buck
December 27, 2011
As Governor Cuomo prepares his executive budget, he should seek structral changes that slow down the state's most potent cost-drivers (pensions, school aid and Medicaid), halt additional economic development spending and steer clear of budget tricks. Senior Research Associate Tammy Gamerman pens an op-ed for the New York Post.
Op Ed
Education
Mandate Relief Needed for Special Education in New York
November 06, 2011
New York State imposes more than 200 special education mandates beyond those required by federal law. Many of them translate into higher costs and fuel rapid and unsustainable spending growth.
Testimony
Energy & Environment
Testimony on NYC Solid Waste Management Practices
Submitted to NYC Council Committee on Sanitation & Solid Waste Management
October 27, 2011
New York is being wasteful in its waste management practices. We could save tens of millions, perhaps even hundreds of millions, of dollars without harming the environment by more sensibly managing New Yorkers’ solid waste. An improved system for waste collection and disposal could prevent further reductions in essential services in coming budgets.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Commends State Legislators' Vote Against School District Borrowing
June 29, 2011
CBC sent a letter of commendation to the State Legislators who voted against school district borrowing for pension contributions (A6309/S4067).
Op Ed
State Budget
Improving New York's Fiscal Report Card Further
June 27, 2011
CBC President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed congratulating the Governor and State Legislature on a productive session, but says more needs to be done on fiscal matters.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Inquiry About the Health Insurance Premium Stabilization Fund
June 27, 2011
CBC Letter to Comptroller John Liu asking three questions about the Health Insurance Stabilization Fund (HISF) and calling for an audit.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Pension Proposal: A Fiscal Remedy for New York
June 16, 2011
CBC President Carol Kellermann explains the need for pension reform in New York and why Governor Cuomo’s plan puts the State and the City on the road to good fiscal health.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
NYC's Choice
June 05, 2011
Amid its budget crisis, the city is on track to lay off teachers, close fire companies, cut social services and impose other sacrifices. Yet such reductions could be avoided if the city reformed its unusually costly commitments for retiree health insurance and brought them in line with those of other public-sector employers.
Op Ed
Education
Give SUNY and CUNY More Control of Tuition
May 09, 2011
CBC Research Associate Selma Mustovic pens an op-ed which advocates to establish a more rational tuition policy and greater regulatory freedom for New York's entire system of public higher education.
Op Ed
State Budget
Filling in Cuomo's Budget Blanks
February 05, 2011
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive budget released last Tuesday was a welcome change. Breaking with past practice in Albany, he proposed closing the state's budget gap with $9 billion worth of serious belt-tightening.
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.
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
Education
Give SUNY And CUNY Control Over Their Own Tuition
May 17, 2010
President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed favoring the passage of the Governor's Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, which would give SUNY and CUNY total control over setting tuition rates.
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.