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Op Ed
Education
How Much More State Education Funding Is Needed?
March 08, 2017
With reforms to the way funding is distributed, the State can fund a "sound, basic education" with $569 million more in annual funding.
Blog
City Budget
Can Taxi Medallions Still Be a Billion Dollar Budget Booster?
March 02, 2017
The City of New York expects to generate $1.2 billion in revenue from the sale of new taxi medallions from fiscal years 2019 to 2023; however, increased competition from ride-sharing services has resulted in a significant decrease in the value of medallions. The City should adjust its budget assumptions to reflect this situation, with the most prudent action being removing this revenue from its financial plan until the industry stabilizes.
Blog
City Budget
How Much Is Enough?
Accounting for the Growth in Homeless Services
February 21, 2017
Spending for homeless services has increased by $1 billion.
Report
Capital Spending
Three Ways to Improve the Port Authority's Capital Plan
February 16, 2017
Despite an increase in transparency and accountability, the updated plan remains deficient in three important ways.
Blog
City Budget
Scant Savings
Agencies Must Increase Efficiency to Meet Budget Target
February 15, 2017
The $3.8 billion Citywide Savings Program features little in the way of savings from increasing the efficiency of government operations.
Blog
Education
Governor’s School Aid Proposal Extends Existing Inequities
February 09, 2017
Big changes proposed to Foundation Aid bake in existing inequities.
Op Ed
City Budget
Why we're asking New Yorkers to assess the quality of life in their neighborhoods
January 24, 2017
We're asking New Yorkers all over the city to fill out a survey on public services and quality of life in NYC.
Blog
City Budget
What to Look for in the NYC Preliminary Budget for FY2018
January 23, 2017
The big questions surrounding the release of the FY2018 Preliminary Budget and Ten-Year Capital Strategy
Op Ed
Transportation
Make the MetroCard a gateway to opportunity, not a barrier
Transit should be half-price for the working poor
January 08, 2017
Half-priced metrocards for low-income adults should be paid for by the City, not the MTA. The City already supports reduced fares for the elderly and disabled.
Report
Public Workforce
Governor Cuomo's Labor Contracts
Only Getting Part of the Job Done
January 06, 2017
In collective bargaining, the Governor must balance paying workers fairly with keeping tax levels reasonable. More needs to be done to control rising fringe benefits costs.
Blog
State Budget
Governor Cuomo’s Third Budget: Priorities for Fiscal Year 2013-14
December 17, 2012
Four important challenges face state leaders as they prepare the next budget for FY2014 in Medicaid, Education, Economic Development and Local Government Relief.
Report
Education
Better Targeting New York’s Pupil Transportation Aid
December 12, 2012
This brief examines education funding in New York State with an emphasis on the distribution of funding versus costs across school districts. The brief includes recommended reforms to the State aid formulas in order to better target resources to the neediest districts and promote greater efficiency in school district management.
Blog
Education
Stretching New York’s Education Dollar: Improving Pupil Transportation Aid Formulas
December 12, 2012
School districts in New York spent $1,100 per pupil on average on transportation in 2010, more than any other state and 140 percent above the U.S. average of $459.
Blog
City Budget
Why the Latest PEG Is Not Likely to Be the Last in NYC's Budget
December 05, 2012
This blog explains why a savings plan, known as the "PEG" is necessary in the Nov 2013 NYC budget modification, examines the savings, and offers broader perspective on the city's fiscal challenges.
Report
Public Workforce
A Comparative Analysis of the Pay of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officers
December 02, 2012
This brief compares the wages of Port Authority police officers with those of the largest state and local police forces in the region, as well as a federal agency. The major finding of the report is that Port Authority police officers are paid more generously than other agencies in the analysis.
Blog
Education
How Spending per Pupil in New York State Varies Among Districts
September 19, 2012
New York school spending is, on average, well above the national norm, but the statewide average masks wide variation among districts.
Blog
State Budget
How Sick Leave Can Be Bad for a Locality's Fiscal Health
(And Health Insurance May Be Even Worse)
July 01, 2012
“Excusable” borrowing appears now to be growing, extending to accrued sick leave and vacation days that are claimed by departing employees without money having been set aside to pay for them.
Blog
City Budget
Restoring City Priorities Along With Spending Cuts
June 21, 2012
The Mayor and City Council's “budget dance” focuses largely on child care slots and after-school programs, but should really be about the City’s overly generous contributions to the health insurance of former City employees and their spouses.
Blog
Education
The Legislature Should Pass the Special Education Mandate Relief Package Now
June 04, 2012
The New York State Board of Regents approved a package of special education mandate relief measures, recommended by Governor Cuomo’s Mandate Relief Redesign Team, that should be passed in the Legislature.
Report
Energy & Environment
Taxes In, Garbage Out
The Need for Better Solid Waste Disposal Policies in New York City
May 30, 2012
This report makes the case for a significant change in the New York City Department of Sanitation's solid waste disposal practices, a shift from heavy reliance on long-distance exporting to landfills to greater reliance on use of local waste-to-energy facilities.