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Op Ed
Transportation
The MTA's Closely Guarded Secret
New Yorkers should be told how much it would cost to fix the entire transit system
December 19, 2017
At next month’s State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to unveil a congestion-pricing proposal that would generate a dedicated funding stream for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Op Ed
State Budget
Repeal the Film Tax Credit, But Don't Expect Savings Just Yet
Even if this wasteful program is killed in 2018, its expenditures will continue for years
December 13, 2017
The Citizens Budget Commission is a long-time critic of the New York State Film Tax Credit program and supports its repeal. However, due to some unusual provisions of state tax law, repeal of the credit will not yield immediate state savings.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
2017 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
December 07, 2017
The State Legislature passed 26 bills. Click to learn more.
Report
Economic Development
Tax Increment Financing: A Primer
December 05, 2017
This report provides an overview of TIF and a five-point checklist drawn from lessons learned from past projects to help identify potential TIF projects.
Report
Health Care
Challenges of Enhancing Effective Engagement of Community Based Organizations in Performing Provider Systems
A Discussion Paper
November 13, 2017
Reform of NY's Medicaid program has made significant progress; however, much remains to be accomplished. A project funded with support from the New York Community Trust to help effectively implement redesign strategies.
Report
Capital Spending
Bridging the Financial Gap
Funding the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
October 12, 2017
Tolls for the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge have not been released yet, but based on construction costs, CBC estimates it will be approximately $10 for cars, double the current rate.
Report
Health Care
Medicaid Supplemental Payments
The Alphabet Soup of Programs Sustaining Ailing Hospitals Faces Risks and Needs Reform
August 31, 2017
$5 billion in annual supplemental payments are important to the finances of many hospitals. Federal policy will shrink these payments; the impact will be most severe for NYC municipal hospitals.
Report
Transportation
Bumpy Road
Transportation Capital Planning in New York State
August 21, 2017
What the State should do to ensure its transportation investment is well-targeted and strategic.
Op Ed
Transportation
Shared sacrifice to save the subways
It's not just the mayor and governor; transit workers and motorists must chip in, too
July 28, 2017
Neither the “city” nor the “state” is a person with a bank account: it is taxpayers who are being called upon to foot the bill. Motorists and workers should also share the burden.
Report
City Budget
NYC Resident Feedback Survey: Community District Results
Reveal Wide "Satisfaction Gap" Between Districts
June 30, 2017
How do New Yorkers feel about quality of life and municipal services? It varies tremendously by community district.
Report
City Budget
NYC Resident Feedback Survey: Report of Results
May 16, 2017
10,000 New Yorkers responded to a survey about which services they're satisfied with -- and which are in need of improvement.
Op Ed
Transportation
Funding Fares Should Be the City's Responsiblity
April 02, 2017
If the mayor supports the policy, it should be a priority that is accommodated within the city’s financial plan.
Op Ed
Education
Fix NY's broken formula for distributing school aid
March 22, 2017
How much more funding should New York state provide to Syracuse public schools? A report by the Citizens Budget Commission, for which I was the primary author, says that an increase of $83 million is needed for the City of Syracuse school district.
Op Ed
Education
How Much More State Education Funding Is Needed?
March 08, 2017
With reforms to the way funding is distributed, the State can fund a "sound, basic education" with $569 million more in annual funding.
Report
Capital Spending
Three Ways to Improve the Port Authority's Capital Plan
February 16, 2017
Despite an increase in transparency and accountability, the updated plan remains deficient in three important ways.
Op Ed
Transportation
Make the MetroCard a gateway to opportunity, not a barrier
Transit should be half-price for the working poor
January 08, 2017
Half-priced metrocards for low-income adults should be paid for by the City, not the MTA. The City already supports reduced fares for the elderly and disabled.
Report
Public Workforce
Governor Cuomo's Labor Contracts
Only Getting Part of the Job Done
January 06, 2017
In collective bargaining, the Governor must balance paying workers fairly with keeping tax levels reasonable. More needs to be done to control rising fringe benefits costs.
Report
Transportation
Recessions and Revenues
The Case of the MTA
December 16, 2015
This policy brief considers the implications of a recession for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) current financial plan.
Report
Economic Development
An Assessment of Performance Reporting by Regional Economic Development Councils
November 29, 2015
This brief assesses the performance of New York State's Regional Economic Development Councils over the past four years and offers recommendations for further improving data collected on projects and on the economic performance of the regions.
Report
Transportation
Sisyphus and Subway Stations
August 31, 2015
This brief examines why the subway stations of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority never reach a state of good repair and recommends how to address the challenge.