Search
Showing 1 - 20 of 51
Testimony
Taxes
New York City Property Tax Reform
Testimony Submitted to the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform
November 27, 2018
CBC makes recommendations for property tax reform to fix problems with transparency and equity of the system.
Video
Taxes
The New York City Property Tax
Problems, Inequities, and Potential Reforms
September 13, 2018
NYC Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform is charged with recommending reforms to make the NYC property tax fairer, simpler, and more transparent. CBC, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Wagner convened a panel to discuss the current property tax system and the reforms that should be pursued.
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.
Podcast episode
City Budget
Episode 59: 1981
November 16, 2018
The data point for today is 1981, the year in which the State Legislature enacted S7000A, the landmark bill that formalized the current property tax system for New York City. A response to the Hellerstein case, which found the system was in violation of State law, S7000A essentially codified the status quo.In doing so, it established a system of property classification, fractional assessments, caps, phase-ins, and class shares that is still with us 37 years later. These structural features and statutory requirements are the root of the system’s inequities and complexities. A home worth $500,000 can face the same tax bill as a home worth $1.5 million, while the value of a condominium unit, according to the City, is a fraction of its sale price. In fact, some buildings have values that are below the sale price of individual units. And commercial and rental property faces a higher average property tax burden than 1-, 2- and 3-family homes.
These inequities and problems have led to repeated calls for reform, including pending litigation. This past May, Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson formed the Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform. In September, the Citizens Budget Commission, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Robert Wagner School of Public Service held a panel to discuss the problem, inequities and potential reforms
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the NYCHA Physical Needs Assessment
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Public Housing
November 15, 2018
NYCHA has an astounding $32 billion in capital needs, a nearly fivefold increase over the last decade. Today nearly all its properties require substantial rehabilitation.
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.
Report
Housing
Uncertain Future, Urgent Priority:
Fix NYCHA's Operating Budget Now
May 19, 2023
rapidly rising costs and flagging rent collections have combined to widen budget gaps, leaving NYCHA increasingly reliant on City subsidies and other non-operating resources to fund its basic operations.
Video
CBC News
91st Annual Gala
Videos, Photos, and Transcripts
February 17, 2023
CBC's Gala is a must-attend event for New York's business and civic leaders. The Citizens Budget Commission honored NYS Governor Kathy Hochul with the Medal for High Civic Service and Stephen Berger was honored with the Felix G. Rohatyn Award.
Op Ed
Transportation
Latest value capture proposal could harm NYC
City taxes should not be diverted to the MTA without local input
March 22, 2018
While value capture makes sense in theory, any such arrangement should be tailored to specific projects and circumstances - with the agreement of the City.
Press Release
CBC News
CBC Submits Testimony on the New York City Housing Authority and the City's Preliminary Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
March 13, 2023
With deferred maintenance driving costs higher and flagging rent collection, NYCHA's structural budget gap is widening.
Blog
Economic Development
Breaking Down the Amazon HQ2 Deal:
Facts and Takeaways
November 21, 2018
Amazon has committed to creating 25,000 full-time high-paying jobs over ten years, investing approximately $2.5 billion, and building 4 million square feet of office space at its new headquarters in Long Island City, with the possibility of expanding to 8 million square feet and 40,000 jobs. To facilitate this investment, Amazon will receive benefits of up to $1.7 billion from New York State and $1.8 billion from New York City. This blog explains the incentive package provided by the State and City and offers five takeaways about the deal and its lessons for future economic development policy.
Report
Economic Development
Managing Economic Development Programs in New York City
An Assessment of Progress
January 02, 2018
The de Blasio administration has made some progress on 5 CBC recommendations made prior to the start of Mayor de Blasio’s first term, but more work is needed to make EDC more effective.
Report
Housing
Stabilizing the Foundation
Transforming NYCHA to Address Its Capital Needs
July 03, 2018
Rather than continue as the nation’s largest landlord, NYCHA should transition to an affordable housing steward employing a full range of strategies to preserve the affordability of its units.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the Residential Conversion of Commercial Buildings
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Land Use
February 28, 2023
Even though New York City’s economy and real estate market are both much stronger today than they were in the early 1990s, the history of 421-g remains relevant.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the New York City Housing Authority and the City's Preliminary Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
New York City Council Committee on Public Housing
March 13, 2023
To balance its budget and fund its basic operations, NYCHA was increasingly reliant on City subsidies and non-recurring funding sources.
Video
City Budget
Conversation with NYC Budget Director Jacques Jiha
A CBC Event
May 31, 2023
NYC Budget Director Jacques Jiha briefed CBC Trustees on the New York City Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget.
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations for Legislative Action on the NYS Executive Budget for FY2019
March 05, 2018
CBC's take on proposals that should be supported, modified, or rejected.
Report
Economic Development
Economic Development Scorecard
2018 New York State Bill Tracker: May Update
May 08, 2018
New York State’s annual investment in economic development exceeds $4 billion, without sufficient disclosure of how the money is spent and what results are achieved.
Report
Economic Development
Economic Development Scorecard
2018 New York State Bill Tracker
June 22, 2018
91 bills active in this session would create and expand economic development programs. Until reform is enacted, these bills should be halted.
Statement
City Budget
Statement on the New York City Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget
January 12, 2023
Much more aggressive action is needed to stabilize future budgets, hedge against a looming recession, and improve the quality and efficiency of services.