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Testimony
Taxes
New York City Property Tax Reform
Testimony Submitted to the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform
November 27, 2018
CBC makes recommendations for property tax reform to fix problems with transparency and equity of the system.
Statement
Taxes
Statement on Property Tax Lawsuit
April 25, 2017
A judicial review based on objective evidence presented in a public forum can be a catalyst for constructive change of the seriously flawed NYC property tax.
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.
Report
Taxes
Options for Property Tax Reform: Equitable Revenue Raising Reforms for NYC's Property Tax
The Most Important Economic and Fiscal Decisions Facing the Next Mayor
December 05, 2013
The purpose of this report is to describe three options for increasing property tax revenues. The first of these options maintains status quo inequities; in contrast, the other two address some major problems with fairness and efficiency that characterize current policy.
Report
City Budget
BIDs - Organization, Oversight, and Transparency
November 02, 2017
There are currently 74 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in New York City serving 85,000 businesses in more than 42,000 properties. BIDs derive the bulk of their funding from a special assessment fee levied on property owners, and collectively BID assessment revenues totaled more than $100 million in fiscal year 2016. This policy brief examines the process for setting assessment fees, their uses, and the city’s oversight of BIDs.
Blog
Taxes
New York City Homeowners
Who's Got the Unfairest Tax Burden of Them All?
September 12, 2018
One of the basic principles of good tax policy is equity: similarly situated taxpayers should have similarly sized tax bills. New York City’s property tax system does not comport with this principle.
Podcast episode
City Budget
$26 billion, with Martha Stark
November 30, 2017
$26 billion is the amount of property taxes the City will collect this fiscal year-- it is the largest single source of revenue that funds NYC government. Special guest Martha Stark is a former Commissioner of the Department of Finance. She joined the podcast to discuss the complexities of the system for valuing and taxing real property and explained why reform is badly needed.
Podcast episode
City Budget
Episode 59: 1981
November 16, 2018
The data point for today is 1981, the year in which the State Legislature enacted S7000A, the landmark bill that formalized the current property tax system for New York City. A response to the Hellerstein case, which found the system was in violation of State law, S7000A essentially codified the status quo.In doing so, it established a system of property classification, fractional assessments, caps, phase-ins, and class shares that is still with us 37 years later. These structural features and statutory requirements are the root of the system’s inequities and complexities. A home worth $500,000 can face the same tax bill as a home worth $1.5 million, while the value of a condominium unit, according to the City, is a fraction of its sale price. In fact, some buildings have values that are below the sale price of individual units. And commercial and rental property faces a higher average property tax burden than 1-, 2- and 3-family homes.
These inequities and problems have led to repeated calls for reform, including pending litigation. This past May, Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson formed the Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform. In September, the Citizens Budget Commission, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Robert Wagner School of Public Service held a panel to discuss the problem, inequities and potential reforms
Video
City Budget
Tax Revenue Panel
The Most Important Economic and Fiscal Decisions Facing the Next Mayor
December 06, 2013
This panel discusses options to reform and increase the property tax; and the impact of tax levels on residential and business location decisions.
Video
Taxes
The Nelson Report: CBC’s Maria Doulis on NYC’s fiscal issues
July 10, 2017
New York State and local tax deductions, New York City’s $85 billion fiscal plan for 2018, and the inequity of New York City’s real estate property tax system.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the NYCHA Physical Needs Assessment
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Public Housing
November 15, 2018
NYCHA has an astounding $32 billion in capital needs, a nearly fivefold increase over the last decade. Today nearly all its properties require substantial rehabilitation.
Video
Education
Breakdown of School Spending at Federal, State, Local Levels
Spectrum News
September 12, 2017
Director of State Studies David Friedfel breaks down NYS school spending per pupil by federal, state, and local revenues. Most revenue comes from local property taxes, which is how wealthier school districts are able to spend more while still getting a considerable amount from the state and federal levels.
Podcast episode
City Budget
348 and 74, with Riley Edwards
November 02, 2017
The data points are 348 and 74.348 is the number of Local Development Corporations and Industrial Development Agencies in NYS. These corporations made $16.2 billion in economic development investments from 2011 through 2015, yet only 5 of the state's 62 counties have had job growth higher than the national average. For this half of the podcast WTDP is joined by CBC Research Associate, Riley Edwards, author of the recent report: "Opaque and Duplicative - Local Economic Development in New York State."
74 is the number of Business Improvement Districts in NYC. CBC's report "BIDS - Organization, Oversight, and Transparency" describes the history and nature of these organizations, what services they provide, and whether property owners are getting their money's worth. WTDP is joined by CBC's Director of Research, Tim Sullivan, to explain.
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.
Report
Taxes
Tax Policy Choices and New York City's Competitive Position
The Most Important Economic and Fiscal Decisions Facing the Next Mayor
December 06, 2013
The purpose of this background paper is to help inform tax policy choices that the new mayoral administration may face. It examines levels of taxation in New York City compared to other cities, and it reviews research on how taxes affect the local economy and migration patterns.
Blog
Education
New York Per Pupil Education Spending is Nation’s Highest
Where Does the Money Come From?
September 07, 2017
Based on the most recent national data, New York spends more per pupil than any other state: $21,206 per pupil compared to the national average of $11,392 as of the 2014-2015 school year.
Press Release
Economic Development
CBC Report On BIDs Calls For Increased Oversight And Transparency
November 02, 2017
CBC examined the process for setting assessment fees, their uses, and the city’s oversight of BIDs, and recommends increased public review and performance evaluation.
Presentation
City Budget
Options to Reduce Expenditures
The Most Important Economic and Fiscal Decisions Facing the Next Mayor
December 06, 2013
In this presentation, CBC puts forward eight options to reduce expenditures by nearly $4 billion by FY2018.
Blog
Capital Spending
How Much, and for What?
May 21, 2013
Reviews the $54 billion Ten-Year Capital Strategy; the next mayor will have to make difficult trade-offs between competing priorities while ensuring the city’s debt does not become unaffordable.
Blog
City Budget
Mixed Marks on NYC Adopted FY2018 Budget
June 13, 2017
Boosts to reserves accompanied by more spending and headcount.