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Testimony
Pensions & Benefits
The Health Care Savings Agreement: A Look Back and a Look Forward
Testimony Submitted to the New York City Council Committees on Finance and Civil Service and Labor
November 29, 2018
Savings to health benefit expenditures are crucial to attaining labor settlements that are fair and reasonable for both City employees and taxpayers.
Blog
Capital Spending
Rightsizing and Right Timing New York City’s Capital Plan
March 14, 2018
Despite a pledge to collaborate with the City Council on a realistic Capital Commitment Plan, the City's overly ambitious proposal is neither realistic nor transparent.
Testimony
Education
Testimony on the New Department of Education Five-Year Capital Plan
Submitted to a Joint Hearing of the City Council Committees on Education and Finance and Subcommittee on the Capital Budget
December 18, 2018
City officials cannot continue to expect the City can build its way to a solution; making real progress will require implementing operational strategies that alter the use of space and redirect students to facilities with capacity.
Podcast episode
City Budget
75%, with Marisa Lago
June 29, 2018
75% is the share of jobs gained since the recession in the NYC metropolitan region that were created in New York City, a datapoint revealed in a forthcoming report from the Department of City Planning. Marisa Lago, Director of the Department and Chair of the City Planning Commission, joined CBC to discuss some of the report's findings as well as neighborhood revitalization, housing affordability, and resiliency and sustainability.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Pension sweeteners a bitter prospect for New York City
New York Daily News
June 15, 2018
The City Council adopted a budget for fiscal year 2019 that totals almost $90 billion. Almost $10 billion will be devoted to pensions for public employees, and the amount is projected to grow. And yet, for some, this is not enough.
Video
City Budget
Brian Talks New York: Fair Fares And Other NYC Budget Debates
CUNY TV Channel 75
April 19, 2018
The City Council has presented a budget that includes reduced priced Metrocards for low-income New Yorkers and other ideas. Brian discusses this with Citizens Budget Commission president, Carol Kellerman and City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez.
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.
Blog
City Budget
City's Fourth Extension of the School Bus Grant Program Should Be Rejected
March 08, 2018
The City Council should reject this program, and all new school bus contracts should be awarded with an eye toward realizing savings in the costs of pupil transportation, now more than $1.2 billion.
Podcast episode
City Budget
$307.45 with Anita Laremont
April 18, 2018
$307.45 - the minimum per square foot price for selling air rights in East Midtown. NYC Department of City Planning General Counsel and Chief Data Officer Anita Laremont discusses the de Blasio's administration's approach to commercial and neighborhood development, including the East Midtown rezoning, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, and more.
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
Report
Economic Development
Competitiveness Scorecard
Assessing NYC's Competitiveness as a Home for Human Capital
February 06, 2013
This scorecard assesses the New York City metropolitan area’s competitiveness in attracting, cultivating and retaining talent. The scorecard is based on the relative performance of the New York City metro area against 14 of the largest domestic metro areas on a comprehensive set of quantitative indicators.
Blog
City Budget
NYC Budget to Absorb $1 Billion in Additional Spending Due to State Actions
April 23, 2018
The upcoming City budget will have to contend with some sizable impacts from the recently-enacted State budget.
Op Ed
City Budget
Forcing budget discipline on big spender Bill
New York Daily News
May 02, 2018
Last week, Mayor de Blasio released an executive budget detailing $90.8 billion in spending in fiscal year 2019.
Op Ed
Economic Development
The Smart Money on Amazon
Strengths and weaknesses in the Long Island City deal
November 23, 2018
As New Yorkers search for Black Friday deals, including on Amazon, we are also scrutinizing the deal offered to the retail giant to come to Long Island City.
Blog
City Budget
A Budget Strategy for Mayor de Blasio's Second Term
January 29, 2018
Four strategies to help Mayor de Basio think through budgeting in his second term.
Press Release
City Budget
CBC Recommends Budget Strategies for Mayor de Blasio's Second Term
January 26, 2018
In order to reach, and then sustain, budget stability in the Mayor’s second term, the budget should contain spending growth; build reserves; reduce the size of the capital plan and the cost of capital projects; and strengthen finances at NYCHA and NYC H+H.
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.
Blog
City Budget
The Time is Right for New York City to Act on Plastic Bags
April 16, 2018
With Earth Day approaching, the City should enact a ban on plastic bags combined with a fee on alternatives.
Blog
City Budget
A $3 Billion Problem
Homeless Services in New York City
May 24, 2018
Despite multipronged concerted efforts, the dramatic growth in City spending on homeless services has not reduced the number of people in shelters, and homelessness remains a serious problem.
Blog
City Budget
Charter Revision 2019
Clearing Out the Clutter
December 14, 2018
The 2019 Commission will avoid the shortcomings of recent commissions if it stays true to its stated criteria and pursues Charter revisions that simplify and update the document.