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Blog
State Budget
Don’t Get Too High on Potential Marijuana Revenues
December 13, 2018
There is significant revenue potential from the marijuana industry, but research suggests that many months or years of careful planning precede consistent revenues.
Video
State Budget
State Budget Breakdown
New York NOW from WMHT
April 04, 2020
David Friedfel from CBC breaks down the final spending plan and what it means for New Yorkers.
Op Ed
Transportation
Shared sacrifice to save the subways
It's not just the mayor and governor; transit workers and motorists must chip in, too
July 28, 2017
Neither the “city” nor the “state” is a person with a bank account: it is taxpayers who are being called upon to foot the bill. Motorists and workers should also share the burden.
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.
Video
Taxes
The New York City Property Tax
Problems, Inequities, and Potential Reforms
September 13, 2018
NYC Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform is charged with recommending reforms to make the NYC property tax fairer, simpler, and more transparent. CBC, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Wagner convened a panel to discuss the current property tax system and the reforms that should be pursued.
Testimony
Economic Development
NYCEDC 2018 and Beyond: Borough-by-Borough in the Next Four Years
Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Economic Development
February 06, 2018
How can EDC improve its performance in 2018?
Blog
State Budget
New York Taxes: Layers of Liability
June 25, 2020
Any consideration of tax increases should include the impact on State and local economic competitiveness
Report
Economic Development
Tax Increment Financing: A Primer
December 05, 2017
This report provides an overview of TIF and a five-point checklist drawn from lessons learned from past projects to help identify potential TIF projects.
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations on the FY 2017 Executive Budget
February 25, 2016
CBC offers recommendations for legislative action on the Governor’s Executive Budget for fiscal year 2017. The recommendations cover four proposals that deserve support, five proposals that should be modified, and four proposals that should be rejected.
Statement
State Budget
Statement on the NYS FY2019 Budget
March 31, 2018
The budget gap will be closed using short-term measures instead of restraint in and reform of spending commitments.
Report
City Budget
Short-term Goals for Long-term Debt
Time to Prioritize Reducing New York City’s Liabilities
September 18, 2018
Paying down the City's debts should be a greater priority.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Six-Figure Civil Servants
Average Compensation Cost Of New York City Public Employees
January 08, 2009
In fiscal year 2008, the average compensation cost per New York City full-time employee was $106,743; this figure represents a system out of sync with the private sector and an opportunity to limit the growth of the City’s liability in the future while continuing to provide fair and adequate compensation to the City’s employees. Three factors that have driven the growth in compensation among City employees are: 1) Pay increases are directly attributable to contract settlements with unions; 2) More generous terms of the health insurance benefits offered by the City, as compared to the private sector and other state and local governments; and 3) The benefit retirement plans offered by the City that lock in the City’s future payouts to retirees based on the employee’s pay, years of employment and age at retirement among other factors. CBC offers three recommendations in response to these factors.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
2016 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
May 02, 2016
The Citizens Budget Commission’s 2016 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard identifies more than 60 such bills active this session. These bills could cost the State and local governments hundreds of millions of dollars per year, and since about half the bills do not specify a fiscal impact, the potential costs could be significantly greater.
Blog
State Budget
Heading the Wrong Way on the Thruway
March 23, 2016
Governor Andrew Cuomo proposal to provide nearly $2.3 billion of State funds from bank settlements to subsidize the New York State Thruway Authority would reverse a long-standing practice of funding the Authority from toll revenue and would put New York taxpayers on a course for financing road and bridge infrastructure that makes little economic or fiscal sense.
Blog
Capital Spending
Design-Build Contracting
A Way to Fix More Bridges for Less Money
February 17, 2016
State legislators should enable New York City to benefit from design-build contracting: if it realized savings on par with the State’s experience, the City could save $2 billion over 10 years.
Video
Economic Development
Conversation with Hope Knight, ESD President, CEO & Commissioner
A CBC Event
June 15, 2023
At Empire State Development Commissioner Knight is dedicated to policies that advance sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Testimony
State Budget
Testimony on Improving the State Budgetary Process
Delivered to the Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform
December 17, 2009
In this testimony the CBC assesses the effectiveness of provisions in the New York State Budget Reform Act of 2007 and makes additional recommendations for improving transparency, forecasting, and flexibility.
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.
Blog
City Budget
Buoying EDC's Operating Budget
June 01, 2020
EDC’s recent decision to reduce service hours and recalibrate routes on NYC Ferry is a step in the right direction.
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.