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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.
Blog
State Budget
Don’t Get Too High on Potential Marijuana Revenues
December 13, 2018
There is significant revenue potential from the marijuana industry, but research suggests that many months or years of careful planning precede consistent revenues.
Blog
Energy & Environment
Commercial Waste Zones
A Green Solution in More Ways Than One
November 07, 2018
The City's plan deserves support.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
NYC Long-term Liabilities Top $257 Billion
October 31, 2018
The City's liabilities reached a record $257.3 billion, an increase of $4.7 billion since fiscal year 2017.
Blog
Housing
NYCHA's Untapped Assets
How NYCHA Can Maximize the Value of Infill Development
October 02, 2018
CBC illustrates how changes to an "infill" development project’s location or affordability mix can significantly affect revenue and units rehabilitated at NYCHA.
Blog
City Budget
Traffic, Rats, and Noise
Quality of Life and the Fiscal Year 2018 Mayor’s Management Report
September 25, 2018
Citizens satisfaction measures should be added to the Mayor’s Management Report to ensure that quality of life concerns are addressed.
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.
Blog
State Budget
Hold Your Bets
Four Guidelines for Legalized Sports Betting in New York State
September 05, 2018
State leaders should consider these four guidelines as they decide whether and how to expand sports betting in New York.
Blog
City Budget
Reduction in Uniformed Overtime Is Still Needed
July 12, 2018
Without workrule changes the City’s uniformed overtime caps are unlikely to be successful. In fact, several agencis have already exceeded their FY 2018 caps.
Blog
Public Workforce
The Cost of a Growing City Workforce
Ballooning Budgets and Long-term Liabilities
July 10, 2018
NYC’s municipal workforce is projected to reach a record 331,520 employees by the end of fiscal year 2019. Headcount expansion has a significant impact on the City’s budget and long-term financial position.
Blog
State Budget
Reallocate Settlement Payments to Boost Rainy Day Funds
July 09, 2018
NYS has wom more than $11 billion in litigation settlements since FY 2014-2015. The spending of some of the settlement funds have more merit than others, but one major shortcoming is that none of the funds were allocated to boosting reserves.
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
Education
Absent Teacher Reserve Costs $136 Million and Needs Reform
June 14, 2018
Teachers in the Absentee Teacher Reserve (ATR) will cost the City $136 million in this school year. The City should pursue reforms to the ATR, such as a 6-month time limit, in upcoming labor negotiations with the UFT.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Bitter Truth
Many Benefit Sweeteners Lack Required Fiscal Estimates
June 06, 2018
To date the New York State Legislature has introduced 138 bills in this session that enhance the benefits of state and local public employees. How much these bills could cost taxpayers is unknown.
Blog
State Budget
The State Budget Cap Has Lost Its Meaning
May 29, 2018
Keeping with Albany tradition, the state's leaders adopted the budget on the final day of last fiscal year in the wee hours of the morning with little debate and no transparency, once again proclaiming the budget complies with a 2 percent growth cap.
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
Pensions & Benefits
Four Egregious Benefit Enhancement Bills
2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard Update
May 18, 2018
The 135 active bills identified on the Citizens Budget Commission’s 2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard this session could cost the State and local governments at least $428 million.
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
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
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.