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Blog
Taxes
Personal Income Tax Revenues in New York State and City
August 13, 2019
PIT revenues are a significant - and volatile - part of State and City budgets.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Governor Cuomo Should Veto 19 Benefit Sweetener Bills
2019 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard Update
July 12, 2019
The bills would enhance benefits without providing enhanced services to taxpayers or offsetting savings.
Blog
Economic Development
Governor Cuomo Should Veto 3 Economic Development Bills
2019 Economic Development Scorecard
July 09, 2019
Three bills to create new economic development programs or expand existing programs passed both houses during the 2019 legislative session. The Governor should veto all three bills.
Blog
Economic Development
6 New Bills Added to Economic Development Scorecard
June 06, 2019
Dozens of bills to expand existing economic development programs and create new ones have been introduced during the legislative session.
Blog
Education
Adopted Budget Continues Unequal Access to a Sound Basic Education
May 22, 2019
It will cost NYS school districts approximately $62.6 billion to provide a sound basic education to all students, yet several districts will not have enough funding.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
2019 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
New York State Bill Tracker
May 01, 2019
For the remaining seven weeks of the legislative session, members will propose to enhance the benefits of State and local public employees and retirees.
Blog
Economic Development
NYS Legislature Introduces 61 Economic Development Bills
April 24, 2019
Dozens of bills to expand existing economic development programs and create new ones have been introduced during the legislative session.
Blog
Taxes
Follow the Money
The MTA’s New Revenues
April 05, 2019
The NYS Adopted FY 2020 Budget directs three revenue sources to support the MTA. This blog clarifies what the revenue streams are and how they will flow to the lockbox.
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.
Blog
Education
Funding a Sound Basic Education in 2020
March 07, 2019
Despite significant funding increases over the past decade, some districts in New York State still do not have the resources to provide a sound basic education.
Blog
City Budget
NYC Revenues in a Recession
Quantifying the Potential Shortfall
February 26, 2019
The potential shortfall from a recession comparable to the last two recessions could be substantial: between $15 billion and $20 billion below projections over three years.
Blog
State Budget
Balancing the State Budget – Halfway There, But Running Out of Gas?
December 19, 2011
The Governor should avoid more new taxes as the way to close the rest of the budget gap and instead focus on containing spending growth in Medicaid, pensions, education, and economic development.
Blog
Taxes
The Tax Hike’s Silver Lining
December 07, 2011
If the temporary personal income tax hike is the price we pay for long-term reforms that enhance infrastructure, encourage job growth, make the state and local tax system more equitable, and reduce future pension costs, then it is a price worth paying.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
New York City Is Not Alone
November 16, 2011
Reducing the pensions funds' investment target to 7% would be prudent in order to keep the City’s pension funds fully funded, and it would be consistent with changes that have been adopted by other large public pension systems.
Blog
Education
Needed Mandate Relief on the Way?
November 01, 2011
New York State imposes more than 200 special education mandates above and beyond those required by federal law; changes are needed to bring NY in line with other states.
Blog
Public Workforce
Another Good Idea to Save the City Money
October 27, 2011
The New York City union welfare funds could also use some "depoliticizing, professionalizing and streamlining."
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
How Much Did New York’s 2010 Early Retirement Incentive Save?
October 25, 2011
The CBC estimates that early retirement incentives saved taxpayers $681 million savings- less than would have been saved if the Governor had been able to achieve through layoffs.
Blog
State Budget
Stop the Wishful Thinking about a New York State Mid-Year “Surplus”
August 22, 2011
Talk of a surplus and using it for new initiatives should end immediately.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Another Promising Sign
July 12, 2011
The Citizen Budget Commission congratulates Governor Andrew Cuomo on his veto of A6309/S4067, the bill that proposed allowing school districts to borrow over $1 billion for pension costs.