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Report
Transportation
Focus, Fix, and Finance
How to Rightsize and Fund the 2025 – 2029 MTA Capital Program
September 16, 2024
This report assesses the status of projects in the current and prior capital programs, identifies the appropriate maximum size and focus of an achievable but ambitious capital program, estimates available funding and the size of the funding gap, outlines criteria for consideration of funding sources, and discusses how those criteria apply to sources that have been suggested or may be discussed.
Testimony
Transportation
Testimony on NYC Ferry
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Economic Development and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
September 10, 2024
NYC Ferry remains one of the most heavily subsidized transit options in New York City, and one of the most subsidized public ferry systems in the country.
Testimony
Education
Public Hearing on New York State School Aid
Submitted to the Rockefeller Institute of Government, SUNY
August 14, 2024
Report
Education
Sustainably Supporting a Sound Basic Education
Part 2
August 14, 2024
Flaws in New York State’s school aid funding formulas stop the State from effectively distributing funds based on student need and local capacity.
Testimony
Education
Public Hearing on New York State School Aid
Submitted to the Rockefeller Institute of Government, SUNY
July 16, 2024
CBC strongly believes that the State should take a more active role promoting performance and spreading best practices, increasing transparency, and improving accountability, especially given the vast amount of resources provided and the criticality of education to New Yorkers’ and our state’s future.
Report
Education
Sustainably Supporting a Sound Basic Education
Proposals to Reform NYS School Aid
July 16, 2024
While attention is primarily focused on Foundation Aid, which comprises nearly two-thirds of State school aid, effective resource allocation reform should address all funding streams.
Testimony
Transportation
Unpause Congestion Pricing ASAP; Use Available Money for State of Good Repair
June 26, 2024
Instead of scrambling to identify substitute revenue and risk a short-sighted decision that does not serve the long run, the focus should be on using available funds to accelerate investment and producing a thoughtful, long-term plan to sustainably finance core infrastructure needs.
Testimony
Transportation
CBC Urges MTA to Publish TYNA Addendum Detailing Costs, Benefits of State of Good Repair Projects
Submitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
May 22, 2024
CBC again urges the MTA to publish an addendum—prior to the release of the capital program—that includes detailed estimates of the costs, benefits, and timelines, for all assets and investment needs in the categories of “Rebuild” and “Improve” the system, including those that bring assets to and keep the system in a state of good repair.
Report
Education
Did You Know?
NYC Department of Education Edition
May 15, 2024
The New York City Executive Budget proposes to increase Department of Education (DOE) City-funded spending 10.2 percent, or $2.1 billion, in fiscal year 2025.
Report
Transportation
It’s Only Fair
Policies to Reduce Fare and Toll Evasion Are Critical to Transit Sustainability
April 02, 2024
In 2023, the cost to the MTA alone was more than $700 million, which evidence suggests is growing.
Report
Education
Target and Tighten
The Sustainable Path for School Aid Growth in New York
March 13, 2024
The State’s burgeoning SOF spending has widened budget gaps. Spending restraint is needed to close those gaps, and that will only be accomplished by limiting growth in school aid, which is nearly 30 percent of SOF spending.
Testimony
Transportation
Public Comment on the Proposed Structure For the Central Business District Tolling Program
Submitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
February 29, 2024
While the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) has long held the position that there should not be credits for bridge or tunnel crossings, we believe the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s (TMRB) congestion pricing toll recommendations, as a whole, are reasonable.
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?
Report
Transportation
Misplaced Priorities in the MTA's Capital Plan
October 23, 2014
The plan identifies $16.9 billion in available funding, but a gap of about $15.2 billion remains unfunded. This CBC study focuses on how the money would be spent and recommends that the proposed plan be revised to address three serious shortcomings.
Report
Education
Vote "No" on the Smart Schools Bond Act
October 19, 2014
While enhancing the use of technology in schools is a popular cause, the Smart Schools Bond Act is ill-conceived and deserves a "no" vote for three reasons discussed in this report.
Blog
Education
Agency Focus: NYSED
Budget Analysis
October 15, 2014
What are the challenges facing the New York State Education Department's (NYSED)?
Blog
Transportation
At PATH a Higher Fare is a Fairer Fare
September 29, 2014
On October 1, 2014, the single-ride fare for the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)—the rail system connecting Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken to Midtown and Lower Manhattan—will increase by 25 cents. Many riders will complain, but the simple truth is that the higher fare is a fairer fare.
Blog
Transportation
Agency Focus: NYS DOT
Budget Analysis
September 28, 2014
Two major challenges face the New York State Department of Transportation: undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment and identifying resources needed to implement a capital plan.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
LIRR Pension Fraud Could Happen Again
August 04, 2014
Summarizes findings from a GAO report indicating the federal agency administering disability pensions for those workers had not done enough to prevent a repeat of a widespread fraud scheme by LIRR employees uncovered in 2008.
Blog
Capital Spending
An Update on Port Authority Budget Reform
July 22, 2014
How far has the Port Authority come on improving its budget process, long-term financial viability, and accountability to the public?