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City Budget
Agency Focus: DEP
Budget Analysis
September 21, 2014
Three entities govern New York City's water and sewer system: the Department of Environmental Protection operates and maintains the system; the New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority (WFA) borrows to finance capital investments; and the Water Board sets rates for customers to meet financing needs. Learn more.
Blog
City Budget
Why the Latest PEG Is Not Likely to Be the Last in NYC's Budget
December 05, 2012
This blog explains why a savings plan, known as the "PEG" is necessary in the Nov 2013 NYC budget modification, examines the savings, and offers broader perspective on the city's fiscal challenges.
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
Pensions & Benefits
An Expensive Pension Enhancement Bill is on the Move
June 08, 2014
About the bill to increase disability pension benefits for police officers hired after July 1, 2009, when a more financially sustainable “Tier III” plan went into effect.
Report
Health Care
A Troubling Prognosis for HHC's Finances
April 23, 2012
This report assesses New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation's (HHC) critical role within the health care safety net protecting lower income New Yorkers, and it explores two significant fiscal challenges in the coming years: threats to City-supported revenues and an inadequate gap-closing plan.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Giving Credit Where It’s Due? New York City’s $1.3 Billion in Health Insurance Savings
December 28, 2014
In its recent mid-year budget modification the de Blasio administration credited a coalition of municipal employee unions with achieving $1.3 billion in savings in the City’s employee and retiree health insurance costs. Yet the unions have not agreed to any changes in the plan, and the City and the unions have taken no actions to reduce costs. How can this be?
Blog
City Budget
Where Do We Go From Here?
Steering New York City’s Finances in Fiscal Year 2015
June 30, 2014
This blog post examines what’s new in the fiscal year 2015 budget and makes recommendations for steering the City’s finances over the next four years.
Blog
State Budget
Guidelines for Wisely Using the $5 Billion Windfall
December 15, 2014
Three questions for determining good uses of one-time revenues.
Report
Energy & Environment
New York’s Green Policies
Too Much or Too Little – A Competitive Perspective
April 03, 2011
This report assesses how New York compares to other cities in pursuing green objectives and suggests how New York’s leaders can set priorities for taking additional steps to promote environmental goals in ways that align with goals of economic growth and urban competitiveness.
Blog
Economic Development
Economic Development Reporting in New York City: What’s Missing?
April 11, 2012
In New York City, current reporting requirements fall short of capturing the full amount of spending in the name of economic development.
Blog
City Budget
The New York City Budget Since the Recession
Seven Rounds of Cuts and the Deepest Still to Come
February 06, 2011
Since 2008, Mayor Bloomberg has implemented seven rounds of cuts to find budget savings, and an eight round is likely due to anticipated reductions in State and federal aid.
Report
Capital Spending
New York City's Water and Sewer System
Is the Rent Too Damn High?
December 14, 2011
This report provides a history of the City's water rental payment, critiques the current method for setting the rent, and suggests alternative approaches to setting the rent.
Blog
City Budget
New York City’s Adopted Budget: Missed Opportunities
July 05, 2011
In adopting the FY2012 budget, City leaders missed the opportunity to address the big-ticket items – health insurance, pensions and debt service – whose unchecked growth will continue to dominate the budget and result in service reductions and layoffs.
Blog
City Budget
What’s Different About Next Year’s City Budget
February 09, 2012
Tax revenues are not exceeding expectations; they are just on target.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
The Case Against Tapping the Health Insurance Premium Stabilization Fund
June 14, 2011
Diverting money from the Health Insurance Premium Stabilization Fund may seem harmless, but it is a fiscal gimmick that only postpones the tough decisions needed to address the underlying causes of the City’s financial predicament.
Blog
City Budget
Resist the Temptation
March 22, 2011
It would be imprudent and short-sighted to avoid FY2012 budget cuts making additional withdrawals from the retiree health insurance trust fund.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
New York City Is Not Alone
November 16, 2011
Reducing the pensions funds' investment target to 7% would be prudent in order to keep the City’s pension funds fully funded, and it would be consistent with changes that have been adopted by other large public pension systems.
Blog
Public Workforce
Another Good Idea to Save the City Money
October 27, 2011
The New York City union welfare funds could also use some "depoliticizing, professionalizing and streamlining."
Blog
Public Workforce
No Contract Does Not Mean No Raises
April 06, 2014
The fact that the entire unionized New York City municipal workforce is working under expired contracts is a big problem, but it does not mean that all municipal workers have gone without raises since their contracts expired.
Blog
Public Workforce
State Agreement Is a Template to Avoid City Layoffs
June 22, 2011
Following the template provided by Governor Cuomo and the CSEA can produce $1.4 billion in savings for New York City in fiscal year 2012 – more than enough to avert layoffs and other cuts.