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Blog
Transportation
Three Takeaways from the MTA's Financial Plan
July 2018 Update
August 13, 2018
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its 2019 Preliminary Budget and four-year financial plan last month. Here are three important takeaways.
Blog
Transportation
What to Look for in the February 2022 Update to the MTA’s Financial Plan
February 22, 2022
The MTA will release an update to its operating budget Thursday. Here, we identify some critical items on which to focus.
Blog
Transportation
How Will The MTA Fight Its Four-Alarm Fire?
July 13, 2020
Federal aid should be a significant contributor to solving this crisis. Yet, even if the MTA receives all the aid it has requested, its leaders face hard choices about how to manage the resources they control.
Blog
Transportation
What to Look For in the MTA's November 2022 Budget Update
November 21, 2022
The MTA should seize the opportunity and runway created by federal aid to implement efficiency-focused operating reforms and restructure its long-term debt.
Blog
Transportation
How Much Do City Taxpayers Really Contribute to the MTA?
February 21, 2020
City taxpayers pay 71% on MTA non-toll, non-federal revenues.
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
State Budget
Late Addition
$1.6 billion in Capital Pork Served Up
July 20, 2022
The additional cash and pressure to achieve a budget deal also resulted in the late addition of $1.6 billion for capital projects that were not included in the Executive’s or Legislative budget proposals.
Op Ed
Transportation
How to Fix the MTA's Huge Budget Deficit
Crain’s New York Business
November 21, 2022
A strong public transit system is essential to New York’s economy and New Yorkers’ quality of life.
Letter
State Budget
Groups Urge State to Release a Specific Plan for Closing FY 2020-2021 Budget Gap
September 23, 2020
We write to urge you to release a specific and detailed plan for closing New York State’s fiscal year 2020-2021 $9 billion budget gap.
Blog
Transportation
Tsk-tsk on Governor’s TIF Proposal
February 02, 2018
The FY 2019 Executive Budget proposed to allow the MTA to create tax increment financing districts in NYC to raise revenue for capital improvements. Though TIFs can play a useful role, the proposal is flawed.
Op Ed
Transportation
Latest value capture proposal could harm NYC
City taxes should not be diverted to the MTA without local input
March 22, 2018
While value capture makes sense in theory, any such arrangement should be tailored to specific projects and circumstances - with the agreement of the City.
Blog
State Budget
NYS Budget Basics, Fiscal Future
The Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted Budget Financial Plan
May 24, 2022
Given the uncertain economic recovery, the budget choices State leaders made all but assure New York will have to make permanent the temporary tax increases of 2021, and may lead to drastic service cuts or even greater tax increases in the future.
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.
Letter
Capital Spending
City Should Evaluate Project Labor Agreements
Letter to Mayor de Blasio
July 05, 2018
With the Capital Commitment Plan now topping $82 billion, it is more important than ever to find ways to reduce costs and speed up project delivery.
Blog
State Budget
Recommendations to Strengthen the State
NYS Priorities that Promote Recovery, Transparency, Accountability, and Fiscal Stability
January 04, 2022
Governor Kathy Hochul's budget and policy priorities provide the opportunity to build a strong fiscal future, and to improve transparency and accountability.
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.
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations for Legislative Action on the Fiscal Year 2023 NYS Executive Budget
Letter to the State Legislature
March 03, 2022
The Executive Budget commendably proposed a financial plan that is balanced over the next five years and builds significant reserves, which will be critical to stabilize New York during the next recession or emergency.
Letter
State Budget
Groups Urge Governor to Issue Executive Order on Agency Transparency
Letter to the Governor
September 01, 2022
We ask that you issue an Executive Order requiring agencies to publish annual updates of their transparency plans and provide measures that allow the public to track their progress.
Blog
State Budget
Pluses Outweigh Minuses in Responsible, On-Time NYS Budget
April 03, 2012
What gets a thumbs up or a thumbs down in the Enacted State Budget for FY2013?