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Blog
Transportation
Three Takeaways from the MTA's Financial Plan
July 2018 Update
August 13, 2018
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its 2019 Preliminary Budget and four-year financial plan last month. Here are three important takeaways.
Blog
Education
Absent Teacher Reserve Costs $136 Million and Needs Reform
June 14, 2018
Teachers in the Absentee Teacher Reserve (ATR) will cost the City $136 million in this school year. The City should pursue reforms to the ATR, such as a 6-month time limit, in upcoming labor negotiations with the UFT.
Blog
City Budget
City's Fourth Extension of the School Bus Grant Program Should Be Rejected
March 08, 2018
The City Council should reject this program, and all new school bus contracts should be awarded with an eye toward realizing savings in the costs of pupil transportation, now more than $1.2 billion.
Blog
Education
Governor’s Education Proposal Pierces Cap And Lacks Needed Reforms
February 20, 2018
The NYS FY2018-2019 Executive Budget increases school aid by $769 million, or 3 percent, to $26.4 billion- twice the increase allowed by the school aid cap.
Blog
Transportation
Tsk-tsk on Governor’s TIF Proposal
February 02, 2018
The FY 2019 Executive Budget proposed to allow the MTA to create tax increment financing districts in NYC to raise revenue for capital improvements. Though TIFs can play a useful role, the proposal is flawed.
Blog
Education
Ripe for Reform
$466 Million in Education Aid
January 02, 2018
New York State will send $25 billion to local school districts during the 2017-2018 school year, accounting for approximately 37 percent of school district revenues.
Blog
Education
Agency Focus: NYSED
Budget Analysis
October 15, 2014
What are the challenges facing the New York State Education Department's (NYSED)?
Blog
Transportation
At PATH a Higher Fare is a Fairer Fare
September 29, 2014
On October 1, 2014, the single-ride fare for the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)—the rail system connecting Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken to Midtown and Lower Manhattan—will increase by 25 cents. Many riders will complain, but the simple truth is that the higher fare is a fairer fare.
Blog
Transportation
Agency Focus: NYS DOT
Budget Analysis
September 28, 2014
Two major challenges face the New York State Department of Transportation: undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment and identifying resources needed to implement a capital plan.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
LIRR Pension Fraud Could Happen Again
August 04, 2014
Summarizes findings from a GAO report indicating the federal agency administering disability pensions for those workers had not done enough to prevent a repeat of a widespread fraud scheme by LIRR employees uncovered in 2008.
Blog
Capital Spending
An Update on Port Authority Budget Reform
July 22, 2014
How far has the Port Authority come on improving its budget process, long-term financial viability, and accountability to the public?
Blog
Education
New York Led the Nation in Education Spending in 2012
June 01, 2014
New U.S. Census data show New York maintained its position as the top per-pupil spender among states on public elementary-secondary education in 2012.
Blog
Education
What School Aid Cap?
For a Second Year School Aid Grows More than 5 Percent
April 03, 2014
The fiscal year 2015 New York State enacted budget increased school aid by $1.1 billion for school year 2014-15, or 5.4 percent - above the "cap" of 4 percent.
Blog
Education
Fix New York State’s Broken School Aid Formulas
March 11, 2014
Large increase in school aid proposed in the State fiscal year 2014-15 Executive Budget will be misdirected to school districts with less need than others.
Blog
Education
School Aid in the 2014-15 Executive Budget: An Overview
January 27, 2014
Reviews Governor Andrew Cuomo’s fiscal year 2014-15 Executive Budget school aid proposal.
Blog
Transportation
Recent Confusion over the MTA’s Financial Condition and What to Do About It
October 10, 2013
CBC offers its perspective on the New York Times’ “Room for Debate” question, “Is there any hope for NYC Transit?”
Blog
Education
New York Tops the List in State Public School Spending
June 03, 2013
In 2011 per pupil education spending nationwide fell 0.4%. In New York, however, per pupil spending increased 2.5% from $18,618 to $19,076, fully 81% above the national average and placing it at the top of the spending list for all 50 states.
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
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.