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Testimony
Housing
Testimony on NYCHA’s Capital Spending of City Funds
Submitted to the City Council Committee on Public Housing and Subcommittee on Capital Budget
November 18, 2021
I will focus on two topics: first, how additional City capital funding and new policy approaches are helping to address NYCHA’s capital needs, and second, the process and procurement reforms needed to ensure that NYCHA spends all—not just City—capital dollars effectively and efficiently.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on Oversight of Changes to Municipal Retirees’ Health Care Plan
Testimony before the City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor
October 28, 2021
This agreement starts right and then veers off course to miss the finish line because the resulting savings do not flow to the City’s bottom line.
Special Feature
Public Workforce
NYC Employee Headcount
October 18, 2021
New York City's headcount declined by 3.4 percent (11,175 positions) from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021, but the Mayor's Adopted Budget for authorized a substantial increase for fiscal year 2022
Testimony
State Budget
Testimony on New School Aid Spending and Performance
Testimony submitted to the New York State Senate Committees on Education, New York City Education, and Budget and Revenue
October 05, 2021
New York State should ensure that this massive school funding increase drives results and target school aid to districts with the greatest needs.
Op Ed
State Budget
Our New Governor’s Budget-Balancing Act
New York Daily News
September 01, 2021
Tackling these crises requires swift action. It is encouraging to hear Hochul emphasize performance and transparency. Her next step should be to convert those pledges into action.
Special Feature
City Budget
5 Year Pocket Summary
Fiscal Year 2021-2022, 74th Edition
June 28, 2021
The Pocket Summary features a five-year snapshot of economic and fiscal data of New York City and New York State.
Op Ed
State Budget
Enough waiting for transparency
Albany Times Union
May 15, 2021
Ten years ago this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission opened a portal for New Yorkers to “suggest ways to improve the efficiency and quality of government services.”
Op Ed
Public Workforce
Early Retirement Incentives for City Workers Is Foolhardy and Expensive
Crain’s New York Business
April 15, 2021
New York state has just authorized New York City to offer most civilian employees an incentive to retire early. The city should flatly reject this opportunity.
Op Ed
City Budget
Fed aid is a bridge; stable shore needed: American Rescue Plan good for NYC only if used prudently
New York Daily News
March 13, 2021
The American Rescue Plan will not only provide tremendous support to individuals, families, businesses and organizations, but can be a game-changer for New York state and city government. Success, however, is far from guaranteed.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on Comprehensive Long-Term Planning (Intro. 2186)
Submitted to the New York City Council
February 23, 2021
Intro. 2186 proposes a new comprehensive planning framework that would reform the City’s land use and capital planning process.
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.
Testimony
Transportation
Improving the New York City Subway System
Submitted to the NYC Council Committee on Transportation
August 08, 2017
System enhancements have often been prioritized over capital improvements of the MTA's infrastructure. The sensible and ambitious turnaround plan should be funded by motorists and increased labor productivity.
Special Feature
Economic Development
Economic Development in the New York State Budget
June 14, 2017
Reporting is limited and differs by program. With $4.0 billion in annual state spending and tax expenditures, a significant investment is being made without enough information to evaluate its success.
Testimony
Education
Public Comment on School Planning and Siting Process
Submitted to the NYC Council Working Group on School Planning, Siting, and Overcrowding
May 24, 2017
CBC offers two recommendations for improving the school planning and siting process: maximize use of existing capacity, and target new capacity to areas with the highest need.
Special Feature
Public Workforce
Facts About NYC Employee Compensation
May 19, 2017
An infographic that shows the City's projected headcount increase from FY2018 to FY2021, the projected average compensation from FY2017 to FY2021, and the average pay by agency and category of worker in FY2016.
Op Ed
City Budget
End de Blasio’s giveaway to bus companies
May 09, 2017
The program was bad policy from the outset-- and was extended for a third year. The City Council should defund it when the budget is adopted.
Special Feature
Public Workforce
Average Pay at the 15 Largest New York City Agencies, FY 2016
April 24, 2017
How much do New York City employees earn in pay each year?
Special Feature
Education
District Map of Foundation Aid for SY 2017-2018
From Enacted NYS Budget
April 20, 2017
Interactive map that shows the distribution of Foundation Aid per pupil and per district
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.