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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
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
Education
Better Targeting New York’s Pupil Transportation Aid
December 12, 2012
This brief examines education funding in New York State with an emphasis on the distribution of funding versus costs across school districts. The brief includes recommended reforms to the State aid formulas in order to better target resources to the neediest districts and promote greater efficiency in school district management.
Report
Public Workforce
A Comparative Analysis of the Pay of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officers
December 02, 2012
This brief compares the wages of Port Authority police officers with those of the largest state and local police forces in the region, as well as a federal agency. The major finding of the report is that Port Authority police officers are paid more generously than other agencies in the analysis.
Report
Economic Development
Recommendations for the Next Round of Economic Development Council Awards
October 10, 2012
This brief analyzes the first round of awards for New York State's Regional Economic Development Councils and provides recommendations to standardize and improve evaluation of programs, as well as move toward a unified economic development budget.
Report
Energy & Environment
Taxes In, Garbage Out
The Need for Better Solid Waste Disposal Policies in New York City
May 30, 2012
This report makes the case for a significant change in the New York City Department of Sanitation's solid waste disposal practices, a shift from heavy reliance on long-distance exporting to landfills to greater reliance on use of local waste-to-energy facilities.
Report
Public Workforce
MTA-TWU Wage Negotiations
A "Fair Increase" Will Not Increase Fares
January 29, 2012
This report examines the contract negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its largest union, the Transport Workers Union Local 100, and it applies the criteria specified by the Public Employment Relations Board for determining arbitration awards. It finds that the public interest will be served by an agreement that maintains a good standard of living for workers, is within the MTA’s ability to pay, and does not force further harm upon riders.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
The First Priority in the New Year – Pension Reform
January 10, 2012
This brief examines pension cost growth in New York State and its effect on the New York's competitiveness. It recommends the adoption of a new tier of pension plans known as the Tier VI Proposal.
Report
State Budget
New York's Endangered Future
Debt Beyond Our Means
September 21, 2005
New York State's debt obligations will require current and future taxpayers to bear a burden that creates a competitive disadvantage with the other states. The core issue is that New York has no effective legal limits on the amount of debt it can assume. CBC advocates for short-run and long-run measures; in the near term, voters should reject bond referendums such as the Transportation Bond Act of 2005 until debt is brought under control, and in the long-run the State must strike a balance between adequate infrastructure investment and a competitive debt burden.
Report
Economic Development
Encouraging Small Business Success in New York City and Northern New Jersey
What Firms Value Most
July 29, 2005
This survey of small businesses in New York City and Northern New Jersey finds that these businesses broadly agree on the three most important factors to success: 1) Overall cost of business; 2) Proximity to clients and markets; and 3) Access to a skilled labor force.
Report
State Budget
The Palisades Principles Revisited
A Progress Report
June 04, 2005
CBC reviews New York State’s progress on the 10 principles of budget reform known as the Palisades Principles. These 10 principles emerged from a statewide conference of civic and business leaders held in November 2003 in Palisades, NY. Of the 10 principles, four have shown no progress, five have shown some progress, and only one has shown significant progress.
Report
City Budget
The Myth of the "Uncontrollables"
Four Ways New York City Can Take Control of Its Financial Future and Save $2.5 Billion per Year
May 11, 2005
For years New York City mayors have bemoaned the fact that much of the budget is uncontrollable: pension fund contributions, health insurance, Medicaid, and debt service. This report suggests four ways to reduce the “uncontrollables” and save $2.5 billion annually.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
The Case for Redesigning Retirement Benefits for New York's Public Employees
April 29, 2005
This report presents recommendations for redesigning the retirement benefits – health insurance and pension payments – for employees of the City of New York and State of New York. It includes a description of current benefits and a comparison to benefits provided by other large private and public employers.
Report
State Budget
Recommendations for the New York State 2005-2006 Budget
March 21, 2005
CBC recommends for the fiscal year 2005-2006 State budget: 1) Significantly reduce spending on Medicaid and on ineffective programs; 2) Make meaningful progress in a long-run realignment of state and local fiscal responsibilities for Medicaid and school financing; 3) Balance the budget with recurring revenues; and 4) Enact the budget on time and in full sunlight.
Report
Education
Can New York Get An A In School Finance Reform?
January 01, 2005
The State of New York faces a major challenge stemming from a 2003 ruling by the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court, which found that the more than 1 million children in New York City’s public schools were not provided with the sound basic education guaranteed to them by the State Constitution. CBC addresses two fundamental questions: Where should the money come from? What changes other than more money are essential to improving educational outcomes?
Report
State Budget
Fixing New York State's Fiscal Practices
Five Problems That Hurt New York State and What Can Be Done to Fix Them
November 09, 2003
This report highlights 5 major fiscal issues facing New York State: 1) New Yorkers are the most heavily taxed Americans; 2) the State’s debt burden is among the highest in the nation; 3) New York has large and recurring budget gaps; 4) the budget process lacks timeliness, transparency, and responsibility; and 5) improvements in fiscal practices are hampered by unresponsive governmental institutions. In addition, the report offers solutions to these important issues.
Report
State Budget
Reform in New York
The Budget, The Legislature, and the Governance Process
November 09, 2003
This is a report on New York State's legislative process presented on behalf of the CBC by Professor Gerald Benjamin of SUNY New Paltz. It was presented at a 2003 CBC conference on New York State's Fiscal Practices.
Report
State Budget
Looking Beyond Fiscal Year 2004
Guidelines for Resolving New York State's Fiscal Crisis
March 26, 2003
This report that highlights an alternative framework for addressing New York State’s fiscal crisis.
Report
State Budget
New York State's Competitiveness: A Scorecard for 12 States
July 11, 2001
This Competitiveness Scorecard assesses the performance of the State of New York over the past five years. The scorecard examines nine different factors that contribute to economic and social well-being and compares New York to eleven other states.