CBC is calling for scrutiny of 26 bills that it calls “benefit sweeteners,” enhancements of public benefits that it estimates will cost state and local governments at least $34 million by the end of fiscal year 2018.

The budget for the Department of Homeless Services this year is more than $1.6 billion, up from roughly $1 billion when the mayor took office. When spending on homelessness initiatives by other agencies is included, this year’s figure is more than $2 billion, according to an analysis by the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan group.

The New York Times uses CBC's survey data to create an interactive data feature showing what New Yorkers think of city services and quality of life in each of the 59 community districts.

Albany lawmakers failed to approve a series of tax extenders tied to an elusive agreement over mayoral control of public schools, leading to stern warnings from the three major credit-ratings firms.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday warned of the need for a new $2.3 billion tax to offset the cost of the state absorbing county Medicaid expenses if an add-on to federal health care legislation is signed into law.

Gov. Cuomo is set to propose a tax on counties that would take effect if Congress enacts a health care provision to shift the $2.3 billion local share of Medicaid outside New York City on to the state.

Carol Kellermann, executive director of the Citizens Budget Commission, a good-government group supported by business, also approved of his selection, calling Mr. Lhota “good, experienced, and seasoned,” as well as “straight-talking.”

Your hellish commute didn’t happen overnight — it took 50 years for the subway to get this bad.

A new state budget was passed in April in typical Albany fashion: with almost no time for public scrutiny of the bills or proper review by the legislators who quickly voted them through. Since the $153.1 billion budget was passed, watchdogs both in and out of government have released analyses, helping to better inform citizens and increase accountability.

Carol Kellermann, the president of the nonprofit Citizens Budget Commission, a fiscal watchdog group, questioned Mr. de Blasio’s decision to rapidly grow the city’s head count during flush times, saying that it made it more likely that new rounds of painful layoffs could be necessary in the city’s future.

Signal problems mucked up subway travel on the A and C lines from Brooklyn to Manhattan for more than four hours Thursday, the fourth time in just a few weeks that such issues have snarled service -- and advocacy groups say the MTA it's proof that subway repairs are being shortchanged.

New York City gets mixed marks for its adopted fiscal 2018 budget, said the watchdog Citizens Budget Commission.