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Blog
Housing
The Cost of Affordable Housing
December 15, 2015
How much does it take to build in NYC?
Blog
Transportation
Why We Should Go Slow on the Second Avenue Subway
November 03, 2015
Why delaying plans for the second phase of the Second Avenue subway is sensible.
Blog
State Budget
An Expensive Deal in Albany
June 28, 2015
The legislative package passed in Albany last week rejected some misguided and expensive proposals, including a tax credit for benefactors of private schools. Unfortunately, other expensive proposals were included, adding to current and future state expenses without providing offsetting savings or revenues.
Blog
Economic Development
Economic Development Bigger in State Budget, But Benefits Unclear
April 15, 2015
Since 2011 New York leaders have restrained growth in the state’s operating budget; in contrast, the scale and scope of questionable economic development programs continue to be expanded significantly. In 2014 state and local spending for these activities totaled $8 billion.
Blog
Education
New York State School Aid
A Big Increase, Badly Allocated Among Districts
April 08, 2015
The fiscal year 2016 state budget enacted last week includes a 6.0 percent increase in annual formula-based aid to school districts from $21.8 billion to $23.1 billion. This is the third consecutive year in which the Governor and the legislature have busted the statutory growth cap they agreed upon in 2011.
Blog
State Budget
New York’s $1 Billion Brownfield Cleanup Program
March 17, 2015
Overview of Brownfield Cleanup Program
Blog
Capital Spending
Don't Block Design-Build
March 15, 2015
New York State's trial with design-build has produced convincing results that merit permanently authorizing and extending design-build authority as a first key step in modernizing the State’s approach to public projects.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
New York Should Stop Borrowing from its Pension Funds
February 25, 2015
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Budget for FY2016 proposes to borrow an additional $1.8 billion from public employee pension funds in coming years. This proposal adds to taxpayers’ long-run costs and risks weakening the fiscal condition of the funds.
Blog
State Budget
Hits Outnumber Misses in the Governor’s FY 2016 Budget Proposal
January 26, 2015
The fiscal year 2016 Executive Budget worthwhile proposals that should not be overlooked in the wake of the Assembly leadership crisis. Nonetheless, some misguided elements should be eliminated or modified.
Blog
State Budget
Top Ten Things to Look For in the FY2016 NYS Budget
January 19, 2015
CBC lists the top 10 things to look for in the New York State FY2016 Budget on topics such as settlement dollars, school aid, medicaid, tax credits, design-build, and transportation.
Blog
State Budget
The Reality of New York State’s Future Surpluses
January 15, 2015
Explains the "aspiration" surpluses in the State's FY2016 budget proposal and what is needed to achieve the savings.
Blog
Taxes
Good Ideas in Tax Commission Report
November 14, 2013
The State Tax Reform and Fairness Commission contains many smart proposals, including reducing exemptions from the sales tax and reforming business tax incentives.
Blog
Capital Spending
How Much, and for What?
May 21, 2013
Reviews the $54 billion Ten-Year Capital Strategy; the next mayor will have to make difficult trade-offs between competing priorities while ensuring the city’s debt does not become unaffordable.
Blog
State Budget
The Back-loaded Impact of New York’s Fiscal Year 2013-14 Budget
May 08, 2013
Reviews NYS Enacted Budget for FY2014- $1.8 billion in annual spending by the final year of the financial plan were paid for with tax increases, non-recurring resources, and boosted revenue forecasts.
Blog
State Budget
Little Noticed but Significant: The Sound Recommendations of the SAGE Commission
April 15, 2013
Reviews the worthwhile recommendations of the Spending and Government Efficiency Commission, or “SAGE” Commission.
Blog
Education
Generous Helpings of School Aid Exceed the Cap and Benefit All Districts
April 03, 2013
The allocation of school aid in New York State’s adopted budget for fiscal year 2014 has two key features: It exceeds the “cap” tied to personal income growth and it distributes the funds in a poorly targeted manner.
Blog
Education
A Big Aid Increase for Schools
March 26, 2013
The final agreement on state school aid allocates $20.8 billion, approximately $7,700 per student, in formula-based school aid for school year 2014. This represents an increase of 4.7%, over school year 2013.
Blog
Taxes
A Disappointing Tax Deal
March 20, 2013
The NYS Enacted FY2014 Budget includes an extension of a personal income tax surcharge that is disappointing and should be reconsidered.
Blog
Education
Competitive Education Grants in New York State: The Experience in Year 1
March 05, 2013
Competitive grants are an important element in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s approach to state aid for education. The new approach began on a small scale last year, and a review of the experience in the first year suggests the proposed expansion may be premature.
Blog
Education
Proposed Changes in Per Pupil School Aid
January 24, 2013
Governor Cuomo's Executive Budget for fiscal year 2013-14 increases school aid by 4.4 percent.