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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.
Report
City Budget
Reviving EMS
Restructuring Emergency Medical Services in New York City
November 25, 2018
The City of New York spends more than $1.1 billion annually in an effort to provide its residents and visitors this vital service, but the money is not used wisely.
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.
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
Pensions & Benefits
2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
May 18, 2018
The balance of this year's legislative session will be devoted to moving bills through the legislative process, including proposals to enhance the benefits of State and local public employees and retirees.
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
Taxes
Practical Policy in Challenging Circumstances:
How NYS and NYC Should Respond to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
March 18, 2018
Strategies to mitigate the federal tax law's threat to New York's competitiveness and New Yorkers' wallets.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Union-Administered Benefit Funds
Getting More Out Of A Billion Dollar Taxpayer Contribution
February 08, 2018
NYC taxpayers are projected to contribute $1.1 billion to 108 union-administered benefit funds. Better management, oversight, and consolidation can create more than $160 million in savings for the City and improve benefits for members.
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
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
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
State Budget
New York's Endangered Future
Debt Beyond Our Means
September 21, 2005
New York State's debt obligations will require current and future taxpayers to bear a burden that creates a competitive disadvantage with the other states. The core issue is that New York has no effective legal limits on the amount of debt it can assume. CBC advocates for short-run and long-run measures; in the near term, voters should reject bond referendums such as the Transportation Bond Act of 2005 until debt is brought under control, and in the long-run the State must strike a balance between adequate infrastructure investment and a competitive debt burden.
Report
Economic Development
Encouraging Small Business Success in New York City and Northern New Jersey
What Firms Value Most
July 29, 2005
This survey of small businesses in New York City and Northern New Jersey finds that these businesses broadly agree on the three most important factors to success: 1) Overall cost of business; 2) Proximity to clients and markets; and 3) Access to a skilled labor force.
Report
City Budget
The Myth of the "Uncontrollables"
Four Ways New York City Can Take Control of Its Financial Future and Save $2.5 Billion per Year
May 11, 2005
For years New York City mayors have bemoaned the fact that much of the budget is uncontrollable: pension fund contributions, health insurance, Medicaid, and debt service. This report suggests four ways to reduce the “uncontrollables” and save $2.5 billion annually.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
The Case for Redesigning Retirement Benefits for New York's Public Employees
April 29, 2005
This report presents recommendations for redesigning the retirement benefits – health insurance and pension payments – for employees of the City of New York and State of New York. It includes a description of current benefits and a comparison to benefits provided by other large private and public employers.
Report
Education
Can New York Get An A In School Finance Reform?
January 01, 2005
The State of New York faces a major challenge stemming from a 2003 ruling by the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court, which found that the more than 1 million children in New York City’s public schools were not provided with the sound basic education guaranteed to them by the State Constitution. CBC addresses two fundamental questions: Where should the money come from? What changes other than more money are essential to improving educational outcomes?
Report
City Budget
10 Myths About Balancing NYC's Budget
And 5 Ways to Lower the Cost of Government by $1B
December 06, 2002
The CBC prepared this document to clear up a series of common misunderstandings about the budget.
Report
Public Workforce
The 40-Hour Week
A Proposal To Increase The Productivity of Non-Managerial Civilian Municipal Workers
December 03, 2002
This report explores options for increasing the productivity of non-managerial civilian municipal workers by extending the work week to 40 hours.