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Report
State Budget
Accounting (and More) for a Better Budget
Strategies to Improve New York State Budgeting and Fiscal Management
December 20, 2022
It is critically important that the State’s budget and fiscal management processes be improved to enable better decision-making, outcomes, and accountability.
Report
Education
More Money, Little Accountability
New York Continues to Increase State School Aid
October 03, 2022
New York State’s schools spend nearly twice the national average per student, without delivering above-average results in achievement.
Report
Transportation
Prioritizing the MTA's Critical Capital Needs
What to Do When You Can’t Do It All
August 23, 2022
The MTA has significant needs for capital investment, from signal modernization and track improvements to new subway and train cars to making stations across the system accessible.
Report
State Budget
Options to Address NYS' Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Debt
June 14, 2022
The State has three options for addressing the Trust Fund’s current debt, each of which have trade-offs and implications that should be considered.
Report
State Budget
Risky Business
What Could Happen If NYS Spends More… More… And Much More
March 23, 2022
The fiscal year 2023 State budget is being negotiated in the context of apparent unprecedented State fiscal strength, though economic and pandemic uncertainties serve as stark reminders to be prepared for emergencies.
Report
Economic Development
Determining an Appropriate Buffalo Stadium Subsidy
Don't Just Wing It
March 21, 2022
New York does not have a good track record of demonstrating that its economic development programs yield benefits exceeding their costs.
Report
Transportation
Misplaced Priorities in the MTA's Capital Plan
October 23, 2014
The plan identifies $16.9 billion in available funding, but a gap of about $15.2 billion remains unfunded. This CBC study focuses on how the money would be spent and recommends that the proposed plan be revised to address three serious shortcomings.
Report
Education
Vote "No" on the Smart Schools Bond Act
October 19, 2014
While enhancing the use of technology in schools is a popular cause, the Smart Schools Bond Act is ill-conceived and deserves a "no" vote for three reasons discussed in this report.
Report
Transportation
Financing PATH
Options for Deficit Reduction
April 23, 2014
This report examines the financing arrangements for the PATH transit system operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Report
Capital Spending
How Public-Private Partnerships Can Help New York Address Its Infrastructure Needs
December 11, 2008
This report explores the application of public-private partnership (PPPs) in New York by explaining its definition of such a relationship and offering in-depth guidelines, potential applications (including highway bridges, New York City school buildings, New York City parks, and higher education facilities), examples on a global, national, and local level, and potential missteps and cautions.
Report
Health Care
Paying More, But Not Getting Better Care
The Case For A New Payment System For Nursing Homes In New York's Medicaid Program
December 09, 2008
New York’s Medicaid program is the most expensive in the nation, projected to cost $45 billion in fiscal year 2008-09 and to consume nearly one-third of the New York State budget. New York State can provide needy residents with better nursing home care and save about $1.2 billion annually in fiscal year 2008-2009 by changing the way its Medicaid program pays nursing homes. This report explains why the current system is wasteful, perpetuating inefficiencies and inequities without assuring high quality care, and how a better payment system might work.
Report
Economic Development
It's Time to End New York State's Empire Zone Program
December 02, 2008
The Economic Development Zone program has become a vehicle for giving tax breaks to a variety of corporations with no clear, consistent, verifiable justification for the public investment. This report describes the benefits enjoyed by participating firms and how those benefits are distributed among economic regions of the State and types of firms; identifies and elaborates on the three serious problems that compromise the program’s efficacy; and asserts that the Empire Zone program cannot be fixed, citing past failures to do so, and should end.
Report
Taxes
The Citizens Budget Commission Review of Circuit Breakers
February 04, 2008
CBC recently looked at the option of expanding New York’s existing circuit breaker program to provide targeted relief to the neediest taxpayers as background for a forum on local tax relief convened on December 6, 2007. Based on that review of options the following points, outlined in this report, can be highlighted: 1) Circuit breakers are common; 2) New York’s circuit breaker needs reform; and 3) The poorly crafted School Tax Relief Program (STAR) would work better as a circuit breaker.
Report
Taxes
Local Taxes in New York State
Easing the Burden
December 06, 2007
A background paper for the third session of a 2007 stakeholder conference to “fix Albany.” The process by which the next budget is prepared and debated, as well as the substantive decisions it embodies, are critical to the movement for political and fiscal reform in New York State. This paper focuses on a more equitable and affordable local tax burden.
Report
State Budget
Options for Budgetary Savings in New York State
October 17, 2007
This background paper focuses on the issue of more effective use of state fiscal resources. It was prepared to inform discussion among the participants at the second of the three agenda-setting conferences organized by CBC in the months of September, October and November 2007 to promote fiscal reform.
Report
State Budget
Options for Budget Reform in New York State
September 20, 2007
This background paper focuses on the issue of greater accountability and transparency in fiscal decision making. Prepared to inform discussion among the participants at the first of the three agenda-setting conferences organized by CBC in the months of September, October and November 2007 to promote fiscal reform, the paper first defines in some detail the limited accountability and transparency that have characterized the New York State budget process in past years. It also describes the progress made in addressing these problems during recent legislative sessions and identifies options that can be pursed in future budget deliberations to make even more substantial progress.
Report
Taxes
A Simulation of Business Taxes in New York City and Other Locations
June 02, 2007
This report focuses on state and local business taxes in New York City, showing that those taxes are dramatically higher than comparable taxes for key competitors. Combined federal, state, and local taxes reduce the rate of return on new business investment in New York City significantly – about 36-50 percent, depending on location and industry. Most of this is due to federal tax – typically 34-36 percentage points. Taxes in New York City were the highest in all industries in 2006, and were highest or second-highest under virtually all scenarios examined. By contrast, taxes in other New York locations often were lowest or nearly lowest among the locations compared.
Report
Education
Educational Efficiencies
Savings Within the Educational System
November 29, 2004
CBC recommends reforms to improve efficiencies in education spending to offset the additional spending required under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement. Recommendations include: 1) Reallocating state education aid away from wealthy districts and to more needy districts; 2) Relaxing limits on the time teachers spend in the classroom; 3) Consolidating small school districts; and 4) placing a cap on administrative expenses.
Report
Education
Finding Space For A Sound Basic Education
November 29, 2004
CBC recommends two alternative proposals to meet the Campaign for Fiscal Equity capital requirements for providing adequate classroom space. The two options are redistricting schools and operating schools on year-round schedules.
Report
Education
Gambling Revenues
November 29, 2004
CBC assesses the potential to increase gambling revenue in order to meet the requirements of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement and finds that aggressive pursuit of gambling revenues has the potential to generate $2 and $3 billion annually, but the State must consider its long-run sustainability, disproportionate impact on lower-income taxpayers, and social costs.