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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.
Blog
Public Workforce
The High Cost of the MTA’s New Police Officers
September 25, 2019
The MTA has committed to hiring 500 new police officers to address quality of life concerns, but it is necessary to understand this strategy comes at a cost.
Blog
Transportation
Who Pays When “The City” Gives Money to the MTA?
May 05, 2015
Calls for “the City” to provide more funding should be clear about who is really being asked to foot the bill: New York City taxpayers already provide most of the MTA's revenue through the combination of local, regional, and state taxes.
Blog
Housing
Mapping the Mayor's Housing Plan
An Update
September 18, 2017
Following the release of data on fiscal year 2017 fourth quarter housing starts, the CBC has updated its map of housing developments created or preserved under New York City’s Housing New York Plan.
Blog
City Budget
Less Spending, More Saving
Benchmarks to Assess the NYC Financial Plan
November 13, 2019
Four things the upcoming budget should do to put the city on better financial footing.
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
What to Look for in the NYC Preliminary Budget for FY2018
January 23, 2017
The big questions surrounding the release of the FY2018 Preliminary Budget and Ten-Year Capital Strategy
Blog
City Budget
Sound Strategy, Sound Future
Recommended Approach for the City’s Preliminary FY 2020 Budget
February 01, 2019
A thriving economy has allowed the City to increase spending by $20 billion since fiscal year 2014. The City should undertake a necessary course correction with this four-part strategy:
Blog
City Budget
PEGging Efficiency:
More Savings Needed Under Mayor de Blasio
March 05, 2018
Find out how Mayor de Blasio's savings plan stacks up against the savings found in Mayor Bloomberg's last three preliminary budgets.
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.
Blog
Energy & Environment
Commercial Waste Zones
A Green Solution in More Ways Than One
November 07, 2018
The City's plan deserves support.
Blog
City Budget
NYC Adopted Budget Falls Short
June 26, 2018
On June 14, 2018 the New York City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget. Given strong economic growth and some higher than expected tax revenue generated by federal tax reform, the ample resources allowed Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Council to come to a deal quickly.
Blog
City Budget
Can Taxi Medallions Still Be a Billion Dollar Budget Booster?
March 02, 2017
The City of New York expects to generate $1.2 billion in revenue from the sale of new taxi medallions from fiscal years 2019 to 2023; however, increased competition from ride-sharing services has resulted in a significant decrease in the value of medallions. The City should adjust its budget assumptions to reflect this situation, with the most prudent action being removing this revenue from its financial plan until the industry stabilizes.
Special Feature
City Budget
Facts About the NYC Budget
2015
October 14, 2015
Facts about the NYC budget in 2015, focusing on recession risk and citywide savings plan.
Blog
City Budget
A PEG by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet
April 19, 2015
Mayor de Blasio voices heartfelt interest in finding ways to save money, but he does not want to call it a PEG or put such name in his plan, at least in part because of its identification with prior administrations.
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.
Blog
City Budget
PEGging It Right
Guidelines for the PEG Process
March 05, 2019
For the first time since taking office, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced plans to implement a Program to Eliminate the Gap (PEG), which requires agencies to generate savings through expense reductions or revenue enhancements. The de Blasio administration previously eschewed PEGs in favor of Citywide Savings Plans (CSPs); in contrast to the PEG, agency participation in the CSP was voluntary. Pursuing a PEG presents both a challenge and an opportunity. This blog proposes three guidelines for the process: 1) identify significantly more than $750 million in savings, 2) encourage recurring savings through efficiency, and 3) follow agencies’ leads.
Blog
Economic Development
Breaking Down the Amazon HQ2 Deal:
Facts and Takeaways
November 21, 2018
Amazon has committed to creating 25,000 full-time high-paying jobs over ten years, investing approximately $2.5 billion, and building 4 million square feet of office space at its new headquarters in Long Island City, with the possibility of expanding to 8 million square feet and 40,000 jobs. To facilitate this investment, Amazon will receive benefits of up to $1.7 billion from New York State and $1.8 billion from New York City. This blog explains the incentive package provided by the State and City and offers five takeaways about the deal and its lessons for future economic development policy.
Special Feature
City Budget
Citywide Savings Program
A program knocked down a PEG
May 21, 2018
Mayor de Blasio’s savings plan relies heavily on re-estimates, shifting costs to state and federal funding sources, and debt service savings.
Blog
Taxes
Pied-à-Terre Tax
Appealing but Problematic
March 13, 2019
The pied-à-terre tax is appealing politically because it is levied on wealthy people with means to pay and nonresidents who do not vote. Nevertheless, it is problematic for several reasons.