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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.
Report
Economic Development
Recommendations for the Next Round of Economic Development Council Awards
October 10, 2012
This brief analyzes the first round of awards for New York State's Regional Economic Development Councils and provides recommendations to standardize and improve evaluation of programs, as well as move toward a unified economic development budget.
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
Pensions & Benefits
The Next Challenge: Retiree Health Benefits
April 16, 2012
Pension reform, done. Next up, retiree health insurance and OPEB.
Blog
State Budget
Pluses Outweigh Minuses in Responsible, On-Time NYS Budget
April 03, 2012
What gets a thumbs up or a thumbs down in the Enacted State Budget for FY2013?
Blog
Education
Improving the Poorly Targeted Proposed School Aid Increase
March 20, 2012
Reviews and recommends changes to the school aid proposal made in the NYS Executive Budget for FY2013.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Pension Reform: Firefighters Will Not Be Running Into Burning Buildings at Age 65
March 06, 2012
Debunks misconception that "Tier VI" proposal would have employees whose duties require certain physical capacities to work until age 65.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
A Reasonable Proposal: Sharing More of the Cost of Public Sector Pensions with Employees
February 15, 2012
Increasing the employee contribution rate for public pensions in New York State is not unreasonable. Comparisons with nationwide norms show proposal would move New York toward the middle of the pack among states.
Blog
Energy & Environment
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Wins the 2012 CBC Prize for Public Service Innovation
February 06, 2012
The Citizens Budget Commission is pleased to announce the winner of its 2012 CBC Prize for Public Service Innovation is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
A More Flexible Pension Plan
January 25, 2012
Part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “Tier VI” proposal to make pension benefits for public employees of New York’s State and local government more affordable and sustainable over the long term is an optional 401(k)-style plan, already used widely in the private sector and becoming more common in the public sector.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
NY Retirement Systems: Still Out of Line
January 25, 2012
NY requires unusally low rates of employee contribution -- meaning taxpayers largely shoulder the cost of providing pensions, which has grown sharply over the last decade.
Blog
Health Care
Improving the Way New York Pays for Medicaid
January 24, 2012
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2012-13 include an important first step towards fixing a longstanding flaw in the way New York pays for its Medicaid program.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
The First Priority in the New Year – Pension Reform
January 10, 2012
This brief examines pension cost growth in New York State and its effect on the New York's competitiveness. It recommends the adoption of a new tier of pension plans known as the Tier VI Proposal.
Blog
State Budget
Jump Starting Performance Management in New York State Government (Again)
January 09, 2012
The SAGE Commission's recommendation represents the third time in the past decade performance measurement and management has been prioritized; let’s hope the third time is the charm.
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.