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Blog
State Budget
And State Spending Growth Resumes
Buoyed by Revenue Strength and Federal Aid
March 26, 2021
Governor’s Fiscal Year 2022 Executive Budget proposes to increase State Operating Funds spending an average of 3 percent per year over the next four fiscal years.
Blog
City Budget
Bridge Over Troubled Fiscal Waters?
Only if Federal Aid Is Used Wisely
March 15, 2021
With more than $5 billion in additional federal relief expected to flow to New York City, the appropriate course of action now would be to address the most pressing pandemic and related expenses and responsibly backfill shortfalls in tax revenues temporarily but resist the urge to fund programs with recurring costs without a long run fiscal stability plan.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on Comprehensive Long-Term Planning (Intro. 2186)
Submitted to the New York City Council
February 23, 2021
Intro. 2186 proposes a new comprehensive planning framework that would reform the City’s land use and capital planning process.
Blog
Public Workforce
Early Retirement Incentives
Weighing the Risks for State and Local Governments
February 22, 2021
In light of the City’s fiscal stress and the availability of other options to balance the budget, the City should reduce its workforce through attrition and not pursue the ERI.
Blog
Public Workforce
A Premium Option
School Districts Can Save $850 Million By Following the State’s Lead on Health Insurance
February 22, 2021
In response to New York State’s fiscal year 2022 budget gap, the executive budget calls for a change to the composition of school funding.
Blog
Transportation
What to Look for in the February Update to the MTA’s Financial Plan
February 17, 2021
Further actions will be needed to stabilize the MTA’s finances in the long term.
Blog
State Budget
NYS Should Not Borrow for Operations Without Spending Restraint, Fiscal Stability Plan, Enhanced Oversight, and Transparency
February 10, 2021
Using long-term debt to fund operations can be a tempting way to close budget gaps, but it should be a last resort.
Presentation
City Budget
NYC FY 2022 Preliminary Budget
Balance Today, Challenges Tomorrow
February 04, 2021
The City is not addressing its long-term fiscal problems.
Blog
Public Workforce
Why Spend to Save?
Early Retirement Incentives Save Less than Attrition
January 28, 2021
ERIs are a more costly workforce reduction strategy than attrition or layoffs.
Blog
State Budget
What to Look for in the NYS FY 2022 Executive Budget
January 15, 2021
Balancing the fiscal year 2022 budget will require some combination of spending cuts, additional revenues, and other actions
Blog
State Budget
Governor Cuomo’s Third Budget: Priorities for Fiscal Year 2013-14
December 17, 2012
Four important challenges face state leaders as they prepare the next budget for FY2014 in Medicaid, Education, Economic Development and Local Government Relief.
Blog
Education
Stretching New York’s Education Dollar: Improving Pupil Transportation Aid Formulas
December 12, 2012
School districts in New York spent $1,100 per pupil on average on transportation in 2010, more than any other state and 140 percent above the U.S. average of $459.
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.
Blog
Transportation
Getting the Facts Straight on Metropolitan Transportation Authority Fare Ratios
November 25, 2012
The blog describes the different ways of calculating MTA fare ratios and of comparing the MTA ratios to those of other systems.
Blog
Education
How Spending per Pupil in New York State Varies Among Districts
September 19, 2012
New York school spending is, on average, well above the national norm, but the statewide average masks wide variation among districts.
Blog
Transportation
Suburban Smiles May Turn to Frowns
September 09, 2012
MTA revenue lost from the payroll mobility tax could be made up in a way that is far more burdensome to suburban commuters.
Testimony
Education
Testimony to the Education Reform Commission
July 26, 2012
Simply put, the aggregate amount of money is not the problem. Rather, current funding needs to be re-targeted to reflect new priorities.
Blog
State Budget
How Sick Leave Can Be Bad for a Locality's Fiscal Health
(And Health Insurance May Be Even Worse)
July 01, 2012
“Excusable” borrowing appears now to be growing, extending to accrued sick leave and vacation days that are claimed by departing employees without money having been set aside to pay for them.
Blog
City Budget
Restoring City Priorities Along With Spending Cuts
June 21, 2012
The Mayor and City Council's “budget dance” focuses largely on child care slots and after-school programs, but should really be about the City’s overly generous contributions to the health insurance of former City employees and their spouses.
Blog
Education
The Legislature Should Pass the Special Education Mandate Relief Package Now
June 04, 2012
The New York State Board of Regents approved a package of special education mandate relief measures, recommended by Governor Cuomo’s Mandate Relief Redesign Team, that should be passed in the Legislature.