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Report
Transportation
What to Look for in the MTA’s November 2023 Financial Plan
November 27, 2023
While the budget outlook is positive, caution is warranted. The MTA and stakeholders should closely monitor ongoing results because certain risks threaten its projected revenue and expenses.
Report
Transportation
Needs and Wants
What to Look for in the MTA's Twenty-Year Needs Assessment
September 21, 2023
Based on analysis of past needs assessments, this report recommends how the MTA should improve its forthcoming Twenty-Year Needs Assessment.
Report
Economic Development
11 Billion Reasons to Rethink
New York's Increasing Economic Development Spending
July 20, 2023
Despite improved disclosure about individual projects, State and local economic development spending continues to increase without sufficient evidence that these programs cost-effectively create jobs or are more beneficial than alternative uses of the funds.
Blog
Transportation
Stabilized, for Now
The MTA's Operating Budget's Long-Run Outlook
July 17, 2023
Taking steps now to start closing future gaps will ensure changes do not have negative impacts on services or the economy.
Blog
Economic Development
Shrink, Don’t Expand, the New York State Film Tax Credit
March 06, 2023
The current program already is overly generous compared to other states and should be phased out.
Blog
Economic Development
No Extension without Evaluation
Reject Proposed Extension of Certain NYC Economic Development Tax Breaks Absent Appropriate Analysis
February 23, 2023
Prior evaluations found two of these programs to be ineffective; the bar to justify their extension should be appropriately higher.
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
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.
Blog
State Budget
Hold Your Bets
Four Guidelines for Legalized Sports Betting in New York State
September 05, 2018
State leaders should consider these four guidelines as they decide whether and how to expand sports betting in New York.
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.
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.
Blog
Economic Development
Governor Should Reject Ten Economic Development Bills
June 25, 2018
Ten bills to expand economic development spending had been passed by both houses of the legislature and will eventually end up on the Governor’s desk to sign or veto.
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.
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
April 26, 2018
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.
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
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
Transportation
Recessions and Revenues
The Case of the MTA
December 16, 2015
This policy brief considers the implications of a recession for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) current financial plan.
Report
Economic Development
An Assessment of Performance Reporting by Regional Economic Development Councils
November 29, 2015
This brief assesses the performance of New York State's Regional Economic Development Councils over the past four years and offers recommendations for further improving data collected on projects and on the economic performance of the regions.