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Video
Health Care
No Easy Solution: Effective Medicaid Cost Control
A Panel Discussion
January 27, 2011
A recent report by the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) found that elderly and disabled beneficiaries comprise fewer than one in four Medicaid enrollees in New York but account for nearly three of every four program dollars spent. Achieving cost savings among this population, while preserving access to high-quality services, challenges the State to develop creative strategies beyond blunt rate cuts. The CBC and New York State Health Foundation convened a panel of healthcare experts to explore the ideas expounded in the report.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Simple But Significant
Savings from the Elimination of the Medicare Part B Reimbursement
December 19, 2010
As New York’s elected officials consider options for balancing budgets in the face of record deficits, they should eliminate a public employee fringe benefit rarely offered anywhere else: reimbursement for Medicare Part B premiums.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
What is OPEB and Why Does it Cost $9.4 Billion?
December 05, 2010
The true cost of retiree health insurance and "other postemployment benefits," or OPEB, was $9.4 billion in fiscal year 2010. Why it cost so much and what should be done about it.
Report
Health Care
Analysis of the New York State Medicaid Program and Identification of Potential Cost-Containment Opportunities
November 17, 2010
This report identifies trends in expenditures and enrollment in New York’s Medicaid program.
Report
Health Care
No Easy Solution
Effective Medicaid Control Must Focus on the Elderly and Disabled
November 17, 2010
This report examines Medicaid spending in New York relative to other states and finds the program is big not just because New York is a populous state or it covers a lot of people. It recommends a multi‐year agenda to restructure service provision and the cost of care for the elderly and disabled.
Blog
Education
High Time For Higher Education Funding Reform
April 13, 2010
Explains why the irrational and inequitable tuition policies at CUNY and SUNY should be replaced by a rational tuition policy that allows for regular increases but also does not reduce financial aid to students.
Report
Education
Is It a Good Deal?
How New Yorkers Should Judge The Next Teachers' Contract
November 11, 2009
The New York City teachers’ contract expired on October 31, 2009. A new agreement may be reached soon. As the City faces a $5 billion budget gap for the next fiscal year and key educational reforms remain unfinished, here are key questions parents and taxpayers should ask to judge whether the next contract is a good deal for them.
Testimony
Education
Testimony on Improving the NYC Department of Education's Fiscal Transparency
Submitted to the NY City Council's Joint Education and Contract Committee
April 11, 2009
CBC submits this written testimony to the City Council joint Education and Contracts Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Education's contracting and procurement process; CBC has two recommendations to increase accountability and transparency with regard to all of DOE’s fiscal operations, including contracting and procurement.
Report
Health Care
Paying More, But Not Getting Better Care
The Case For A New Payment System For Nursing Homes In New York's Medicaid Program
December 09, 2008
New York’s Medicaid program is the most expensive in the nation, projected to cost $45 billion in fiscal year 2008-09 and to consume nearly one-third of the New York State budget. New York State can provide needy residents with better nursing home care and save about $1.2 billion annually in fiscal year 2008-2009 by changing the way its Medicaid program pays nursing homes. This report explains why the current system is wasteful, perpetuating inefficiencies and inequities without assuring high quality care, and how a better payment system might work.
Report
Education
Striking a Balance
Financing Education Reform in the Most Heavily-Taxed State
November 01, 2006
Following up on its previous research on the issues surrounding the State Court’s decision in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, CBC hosted two expert panel discussions focusing on key issues in education finance reform. This brief recounts the proceedings from the second of those discussions, which took place on April 27, 2006. The discussion focused on responsibly generating revenues to fund the Court’s mandate, thinking about other changes needed to accomplish reform, and developing the role of the business community in seeing reform across the finish line.
Report
Education
Approaches to School Finance Reform for New York State
Is Robin Hood the Good Guy? Moving Toward a More Equitable School Aid System for New York
September 28, 2006
The report discusses the background of the 2003 New York State Court of Appeals decision in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, an overview of the issue, explains what is wrong with the current system, provides possible sources of revenue, and provides a discussion framework.
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
Education
Educational Efficiencies
Savings Within the Educational System
November 29, 2004
CBC recommends reforms to improve efficiencies in education spending to offset the additional spending required under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement. Recommendations include: 1) Reallocating state education aid away from wealthy districts and to more needy districts; 2) Relaxing limits on the time teachers spend in the classroom; 3) Consolidating small school districts; and 4) placing a cap on administrative expenses.
Report
Education
Finding Space For A Sound Basic Education
November 29, 2004
CBC recommends two alternative proposals to meet the Campaign for Fiscal Equity capital requirements for providing adequate classroom space. The two options are redistricting schools and operating schools on year-round schedules.
Report
Education
Gambling Revenues
November 29, 2004
CBC assesses the potential to increase gambling revenue in order to meet the requirements of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement and finds that aggressive pursuit of gambling revenues has the potential to generate $2 and $3 billion annually, but the State must consider its long-run sustainability, disproportionate impact on lower-income taxpayers, and social costs.
Report
Education
Lessons From Other States
November 29, 2004
CBC conducted case studies of seven states (Kentucky, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Michigan) that have faced legal challenges to their public school financing systems. The analysis considers the following questions: 1) How long did it take and why? 2) How much did it cost, and where did the money come from? 3) What were the results in terms of finance outcomes? 4) What new strings where put on the money? 5) What were the results in terms of educational outcomes?
Report
Education
Promoting Accountability in New York State
November 29, 2004
CBC calls for a new accountability system for education spending to be developed in conjunction with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement to ensure that new money, as well as old money, is spent effectively.
Report
Education
Tax Revenue Options
November 28, 2004
CBC reviews revenue options to best pay for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity initiatives. CBC considers broadening the base of two taxes, sales and corporate income; raising rates on two existing statewide taxes, personal income and sales; and instituting a new statewide property tax.
Report
Education
Amicus Brief for Campaign for Fiscal Equity Lawsuit
September 19, 2004
CBC's amicus curiae brief in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case focuses on four critical issues regarding the infusion of additional funding into the New York City school system in order to provide students with a sound basic education: The mix of state and local responsibility; accountability mechanisms; adequate classroom space; and changes to workforce compensation and deployment.
Report
Health Care
Confronting the Tradeoffs in Medicaid Cost Containment
February 20, 2004
While its benefits are clear and widely supported, Medicaid's costs are far more controversial. In New York, total spending for Medicaid of $36 billion in fiscal year 2003 represented nearly 40 percent of total State expenditures. The portion of the Medicaid program paid for with State-raised revenues totaled $12.6 billion or more than one-quarter of all State spending financed with State revenues.