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Report
Transportation
NYS Infrastructure Policy
A Background Paper for the CBC Conference on The Most Important Fiscal and Economic Issues Facing New York State
December 13, 2018
This paper was prepared by HR&A Advisors as a background paper for the December 2018 CBC Conference on most important fiscal and economic issues facing New York State. The paper provides recommendations for how NYS should prioritize, fund, and deliver key infrastructure investments.
Report
City Budget
Reviving EMS
Restructuring Emergency Medical Services in New York City
November 25, 2018
The City of New York spends more than $1.1 billion annually in an effort to provide its residents and visitors this vital service, but the money is not used wisely.
Report
Housing
Stabilizing the Foundation
Transforming NYCHA to Address Its Capital Needs
July 03, 2018
Rather than continue as the nation’s largest landlord, NYCHA should transition to an affordable housing steward employing a full range of strategies to preserve the affordability of its units.
Report
Economic Development
Economic Development Scorecard
2018 New York State Bill Tracker
June 22, 2018
91 bills active in this session would create and expand economic development programs. Until reform is enacted, these bills should be halted.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
May 18, 2018
The balance of this year's legislative session will be devoted to moving bills through the legislative process, including proposals to enhance the benefits of State and local public employees and retirees.
Report
Economic Development
Economic Development Scorecard
2018 New York State Bill Tracker: May Update
May 08, 2018
New York State’s annual investment in economic development exceeds $4 billion, without sufficient disclosure of how the money is spent and what results are achieved.
Report
Economic Development
Economic Development Scorecard
2018 New York State Bill Tracker
April 26, 2018
Report
Taxes
Practical Policy in Challenging Circumstances:
How NYS and NYC Should Respond to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
March 18, 2018
Strategies to mitigate the federal tax law's threat to New York's competitiveness and New Yorkers' wallets.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Union-Administered Benefit Funds
Getting More Out Of A Billion Dollar Taxpayer Contribution
February 08, 2018
NYC taxpayers are projected to contribute $1.1 billion to 108 union-administered benefit funds. Better management, oversight, and consolidation can create more than $160 million in savings for the City and improve benefits for members.
Report
Economic Development
Managing Economic Development Programs in New York City
An Assessment of Progress
January 02, 2018
The de Blasio administration has made some progress on 5 CBC recommendations made prior to the start of Mayor de Blasio’s first term, but more work is needed to make EDC more effective.
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
Public Workforce
Twenty Years Later
Integrating Services In The New York City Fire Department
December 09, 2015
The FDNY responds to more more medical emergencies than fires. The department needs a fundamental transformation.
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
Taxis, Taxes, and the MTA Funding Gap
August 25, 2015
This policy brief suggests alternatives for taxes on services regulated by New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission as a potential source of filling the gap in the MTA's proposed 2015-2019 capital plan.
Report
Economic Development
Bigger Not Better
New York’s Expanding Economic Development Programs
February 18, 2015
Although some modest reforms have been made, many economic development programs have grown significantly without the improvements needed to address widely noted shortcomings.
Report
Capital Spending
How Public-Private Partnerships Can Help New York Address Its Infrastructure Needs
December 11, 2008
This report explores the application of public-private partnership (PPPs) in New York by explaining its definition of such a relationship and offering in-depth guidelines, potential applications (including highway bridges, New York City school buildings, New York City parks, and higher education facilities), examples on a global, national, and local level, and potential missteps and cautions.
Report
Economic Development
It's Time to End New York State's Empire Zone Program
December 02, 2008
The Economic Development Zone program has become a vehicle for giving tax breaks to a variety of corporations with no clear, consistent, verifiable justification for the public investment. This report describes the benefits enjoyed by participating firms and how those benefits are distributed among economic regions of the State and types of firms; identifies and elaborates on the three serious problems that compromise the program’s efficacy; and asserts that the Empire Zone program cannot be fixed, citing past failures to do so, and should end.
Report
Taxes
The Citizens Budget Commission Review of Circuit Breakers
February 04, 2008
CBC recently looked at the option of expanding New York’s existing circuit breaker program to provide targeted relief to the neediest taxpayers as background for a forum on local tax relief convened on December 6, 2007. Based on that review of options the following points, outlined in this report, can be highlighted: 1) Circuit breakers are common; 2) New York’s circuit breaker needs reform; and 3) The poorly crafted School Tax Relief Program (STAR) would work better as a circuit breaker.
Report
Taxes
Local Taxes in New York State
Easing the Burden
December 06, 2007
A background paper for the third session of a 2007 stakeholder conference to “fix Albany.” The process by which the next budget is prepared and debated, as well as the substantive decisions it embodies, are critical to the movement for political and fiscal reform in New York State. This paper focuses on a more equitable and affordable local tax burden.
Report
Capital Spending
Capital Budgeting for 2030
Achieving the Goals of PLANYC
December 01, 2007
This report analyzes Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PLANYC, a new long-range planning initiative for New York City's capital assets and infrastructure. The report identifies the four greatest challenges confronting this initiative and makes recommendations for overcoming them.