Search
Showing 1 - 20 of 62
Report
Transportation
NYS Infrastructure Policy
A Background Paper for the CBC Conference on The Most Important Fiscal and Economic Issues Facing New York State
December 13, 2018
This paper was prepared by HR&A Advisors as a background paper for the December 2018 CBC Conference on most important fiscal and economic issues facing New York State. The paper provides recommendations for how NYS should prioritize, fund, and deliver key infrastructure investments.
Blog
State Budget
Don’t Get Too High on Potential Marijuana Revenues
December 13, 2018
There is significant revenue potential from the marijuana industry, but research suggests that many months or years of careful planning precede consistent revenues.
Blog
Taxes
New York City Homeowners
Who's Got the Unfairest Tax Burden of Them All?
September 12, 2018
One of the basic principles of good tax policy is equity: similarly situated taxpayers should have similarly sized tax bills. New York City’s property tax system does not comport with this principle.
Blog
Transportation
Three Takeaways from the MTA's Financial Plan
July 2018 Update
August 13, 2018
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its 2019 Preliminary Budget and four-year financial plan last month. Here are three important takeaways.
Letter
Taxes
New York State Should Create an Unincorporated Business Tax
A Letter to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
July 26, 2018
A UBT is needed to blunt the impact of federal tax reform; here are CBC's recommendations for designing it.
Report
Transportation
Getting Back on Track
Replacing and Repairing Subway Cars Will Be Expensive and Take More Than a Decade
July 18, 2018
Decisions to redirect capital dollars to other priorities and stretch inspection and maintenance cycles contributed to the decline in subway reliability, and challenges lay ahead for plans to purchase 3,600 new subway cars and retrofit 1,200 existing cars.
Letter
Capital Spending
City Should Evaluate Project Labor Agreements
Letter to Mayor de Blasio
July 05, 2018
With the Capital Commitment Plan now topping $82 billion, it is more important than ever to find ways to reduce costs and speed up project delivery.
Blog
Education
Absent Teacher Reserve Costs $136 Million and Needs Reform
June 14, 2018
Teachers in the Absentee Teacher Reserve (ATR) will cost the City $136 million in this school year. The City should pursue reforms to the ATR, such as a 6-month time limit, in upcoming labor negotiations with the UFT.
Report
Transportation
4 Things You Should Know About the MTA's Commuter Railroads
April 18, 2018
The Long Island Rail Road is much more inefficient than Metro-North. Here's why.
Letter
State Budget
Significant Impacts the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the Residents and Revenues of New York State
Letter to Governor Cuomo
March 20, 2018
I write to convey the Citizens Budget Commission’s findings about the significant impacts the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will have on the residents and revenues of New York City and New York State and recommended steps needed to address these problems.
Letter
Taxes
Significant Impacts the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the Residents and Revenues of New York City
Letter to Mayor de Blasio
March 20, 2018
I write to convey the Citizens Budget Commission’s findings about the significant impacts the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will have on the residents and revenues of New York City and New York State and recommended steps needed to address these problems.
Report
Taxes
Practical Policy in Challenging Circumstances:
How NYS and NYC Should Respond to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
March 18, 2018
Strategies to mitigate the federal tax law's threat to New York's competitiveness and New Yorkers' wallets.
Blog
City Budget
City's Fourth Extension of the School Bus Grant Program Should Be Rejected
March 08, 2018
The City Council should reject this program, and all new school bus contracts should be awarded with an eye toward realizing savings in the costs of pupil transportation, now more than $1.2 billion.
Blog
Education
Governor’s Education Proposal Pierces Cap And Lacks Needed Reforms
February 20, 2018
The NYS FY2018-2019 Executive Budget increases school aid by $769 million, or 3 percent, to $26.4 billion- twice the increase allowed by the school aid cap.
Blog
Transportation
Tsk-tsk on Governor’s TIF Proposal
February 02, 2018
The FY 2019 Executive Budget proposed to allow the MTA to create tax increment financing districts in NYC to raise revenue for capital improvements. Though TIFs can play a useful role, the proposal is flawed.
Blog
Education
Ripe for Reform
$466 Million in Education Aid
January 02, 2018
New York State will send $25 billion to local school districts during the 2017-2018 school year, accounting for approximately 37 percent of school district revenues.
Letter
Transportation
CBC Urges Governor to Veto Two Free Transfers Legislation
December 14, 2017
CBC calls on Governor Andrew Cuomo to veto bill that would require the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide two free transfers between subways and buses within a two-hour period.
Report
Economic Development
Tax Increment Financing: A Primer
December 05, 2017
This report provides an overview of TIF and a five-point checklist drawn from lessons learned from past projects to help identify potential TIF projects.
Blog
Transportation
More Than Enough Problems
The MTA 2018 Final Proposed Budget and Four-year Financial Plan
November 27, 2017
There are unanswered questions about the MTA's 2018 budget and $1.5 billion Subway Action Plan.
Blog
City Budget
NYC Resident Feedback Survey: Issues Requiring More Attention from City Government
October 20, 2017
New Yorkers tell us what the biggest issues are requiring the attention of city government. Click to see how your neighbors responded.