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Pensions & Benefits
Giving Credit Where It’s Due? New York City’s $1.3 Billion in Health Insurance Savings
December 28, 2014
In its recent mid-year budget modification the de Blasio administration credited a coalition of municipal employee unions with achieving $1.3 billion in savings in the City’s employee and retiree health insurance costs. Yet the unions have not agreed to any changes in the plan, and the City and the unions have taken no actions to reduce costs. How can this be?
Blog
Transportation
At PATH a Higher Fare is a Fairer Fare
September 29, 2014
On October 1, 2014, the single-ride fare for the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)—the rail system connecting Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken to Midtown and Lower Manhattan—will increase by 25 cents. Many riders will complain, but the simple truth is that the higher fare is a fairer fare.
Blog
Transportation
Agency Focus: NYS DOT
Budget Analysis
September 28, 2014
Two major challenges face the New York State Department of Transportation: undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment and identifying resources needed to implement a capital plan.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
LIRR Pension Fraud Could Happen Again
August 04, 2014
Summarizes findings from a GAO report indicating the federal agency administering disability pensions for those workers had not done enough to prevent a repeat of a widespread fraud scheme by LIRR employees uncovered in 2008.
Blog
Capital Spending
An Update on Port Authority Budget Reform
July 22, 2014
How far has the Port Authority come on improving its budget process, long-term financial viability, and accountability to the public?
Blog
Public Workforce
Three Questions about 1,000 New Police Officers
June 18, 2014
As the New York City budget for fiscal year 2015 nears adoption, one of the more expensive Council initiatives, at an estimated cost of almost $100 million annually, is the hiring of 1,000 new police officers to increase staffing at police precincts.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
An Expensive Pension Enhancement Bill is on the Move
June 08, 2014
About the bill to increase disability pension benefits for police officers hired after July 1, 2009, when a more financially sustainable “Tier III” plan went into effect.
Blog
Public Workforce
No Contract Does Not Mean No Raises
April 06, 2014
The fact that the entire unionized New York City municipal workforce is working under expired contracts is a big problem, but it does not mean that all municipal workers have gone without raises since their contracts expired.
Blog
Public Workforce
City Government Needs to Attract Younger Workers
February 18, 2014
City leaders need to think boldly about how best to reconfigure the City’s compensation and hiring practices to attract a young and skilled workforce in coming years.
Blog
Education
Stretching New York’s Education Dollar: Improving Pupil Transportation Aid Formulas
December 12, 2012
School districts in New York spent $1,100 per pupil on average on transportation in 2010, more than any other state and 140 percent above the U.S. average of $459.
Blog
Transportation
Getting the Facts Straight on Metropolitan Transportation Authority Fare Ratios
November 25, 2012
The blog describes the different ways of calculating MTA fare ratios and of comparing the MTA ratios to those of other systems.
Blog
Transportation
Suburban Smiles May Turn to Frowns
September 09, 2012
MTA revenue lost from the payroll mobility tax could be made up in a way that is far more burdensome to suburban commuters.
Blog
City Budget
What’s Different About Next Year’s City Budget
February 09, 2012
Tax revenues are not exceeding expectations; they are just on target.
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
Capital Spending
The Dos and Don’ts of PPPs
December 04, 2011
Dos and Don’ts for the use of PPPs, or "P3s" adapted from the CBC's 2008 report, “How Public-Private Partnerships Can Help New York Address Its Infrastructure Needs.”
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
Public Workforce
What Concessions?
August 28, 2011
A close look at the agreements between Mayor Bloomberg and city unions reveals that jobs were not saved by labor concessions but through diverting other resources or creating new risks in the budget.
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
Public Workforce
State Agreement Is a Template to Avoid City Layoffs
June 22, 2011
Following the template provided by Governor Cuomo and the CSEA can produce $1.4 billion in savings for New York City in fiscal year 2012 – more than enough to avert layoffs and other cuts.
Blog
Taxes
New Revenues and the Path to Sustainable State Spending
March 07, 2011
Since the onset of the national recession the State has relied more extensively on new revenue measures than on recurring spending cuts.