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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
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).
Report
Public Workforce
MTA-TWU Wage Negotiations
A "Fair Increase" Will Not Increase Fares
January 29, 2012
This report examines the contract negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its largest union, the Transport Workers Union Local 100, and it applies the criteria specified by the Public Employment Relations Board for determining arbitration awards. It finds that the public interest will be served by an agreement that maintains a good standard of living for workers, is within the MTA’s ability to pay, and does not force further harm upon riders.
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.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Carol Kellermann: Pension Reform is Highest Priority
January 16, 2012
President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed urging Governor Cuomo to pursue pension reform in his 2012-2013 Executive Budget.
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.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Simple But Significant
Savings from the Elimination of the Medicare Part B Reimbursement
December 19, 2010
As New York’s elected officials consider options for balancing budgets in the face of record deficits, they should eliminate a public employee fringe benefit rarely offered anywhere else: reimbursement for Medicare Part B premiums.
Blog
City Budget
Delaying the Pain
The truth about cost-cutting in New York City's November Plan
December 15, 2010
A closer look at the City November 2011 savings plan reveals two notable points: Nearly two-thirds consists of new revenue, and expenditure cuts are modest, although health, welfare, libraries and cultural institutions bear most of the burden.
Blog
Capital Spending
When Will the Capital Budget Cuts Really Arrive?
December 09, 2010
Failure to impose fiscal austerity on the infrastructure agenda is evident in growing levels of capital commitments.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
What is OPEB and Why Does it Cost $9.4 Billion?
December 05, 2010
The true cost of retiree health insurance and "other postemployment benefits," or OPEB, was $9.4 billion in fiscal year 2010. Why it cost so much and what should be done about it.
Report
Health Care
Analysis of the New York State Medicaid Program and Identification of Potential Cost-Containment Opportunities
November 17, 2010
This report identifies trends in expenditures and enrollment in New York’s Medicaid program.
Report
Health Care
No Easy Solution
Effective Medicaid Control Must Focus on the Elderly and Disabled
November 17, 2010
This report examines Medicaid spending in New York relative to other states and finds the program is big not just because New York is a populous state or it covers a lot of people. It recommends a multi‐year agenda to restructure service provision and the cost of care for the elderly and disabled.
Blog
Public Workforce
A Closer Look at Paterson's Proposed Layoffs
October 31, 2010
Review Governor Paterson's plan to lay off state workers and allow additional positions to be vacated.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
8 Things New Yorkers Should Know About Public Retirement Benefits in New York State
October 19, 2010
This report presents eight facts about retirement benefits for New York State and local employees intended to stimulate a substantive discourse on pursuing changes to prevent underfunding of the pension systems and to make retirement benefits more fair and affordable.
Report
State Budget
Is a State Spending Cap the Right Approach for New York?
October 11, 2010
This paper examines the caps proposed for New York. It also analyzes the Colorado experience and that of three other states in order to help inform decision making for New York.
Blog
State Budget
About Last Night: The Good News and the Bad
August 03, 2010
Review the State budget deal for FY2011: it partially addresses the current year deficit, but leaves fundamental issues unaddressed, and contains substantial risky elements.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Better Benefits from our Billion Bucks
August 02, 2010
This report describes the organization and financing of the union welfare funds, identifies and documents three problems with the current arrangements – limited accountability, poor financial management and inefficient provision of benefits - and presents recommendations to improve the use of these payments and provide taxpayer savings.