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Blog
State Budget
Don’t Get Too High on Potential Marijuana Revenues
December 13, 2018
There is significant revenue potential from the marijuana industry, but research suggests that many months or years of careful planning precede consistent revenues.
Blog
Economic Development
Breaking Down the Amazon HQ2 Deal:
Facts and Takeaways
November 21, 2018
Amazon has committed to creating 25,000 full-time high-paying jobs over ten years, investing approximately $2.5 billion, and building 4 million square feet of office space at its new headquarters in Long Island City, with the possibility of expanding to 8 million square feet and 40,000 jobs. To facilitate this investment, Amazon will receive benefits of up to $1.7 billion from New York State and $1.8 billion from New York City. This blog explains the incentive package provided by the State and City and offers five takeaways about the deal and its lessons for future economic development policy.
Blog
State Budget
Hold Your Bets
Four Guidelines for Legalized Sports Betting in New York State
September 05, 2018
State leaders should consider these four guidelines as they decide whether and how to expand sports betting in New York.
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
State Budget
Reallocate Settlement Payments to Boost Rainy Day Funds
July 09, 2018
NYS has wom more than $11 billion in litigation settlements since FY 2014-2015. The spending of some of the settlement funds have more merit than others, but one major shortcoming is that none of the funds were allocated to boosting reserves.
Blog
Economic Development
Governor Should Reject Ten Economic Development Bills
June 25, 2018
Ten bills to expand economic development spending had been passed by both houses of the legislature and will eventually end up on the Governor’s desk to sign or veto.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Bitter Truth
Many Benefit Sweeteners Lack Required Fiscal Estimates
June 06, 2018
To date the New York State Legislature has introduced 138 bills in this session that enhance the benefits of state and local public employees. How much these bills could cost taxpayers is unknown.
Blog
State Budget
The State Budget Cap Has Lost Its Meaning
May 29, 2018
Keeping with Albany tradition, the state's leaders adopted the budget on the final day of last fiscal year in the wee hours of the morning with little debate and no transparency, once again proclaiming the budget complies with a 2 percent growth cap.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Four Egregious Benefit Enhancement Bills
2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard Update
May 18, 2018
The 135 active bills identified on the Citizens Budget Commission’s 2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard this session could cost the State and local governments at least $428 million.
Blog
Health Care
Three Strikes Against the Governor’s Proposed Conversion Revenue
March 13, 2018
Counting on the revenue from health insurance company conversations is not prudent for three important reasons.
Blog
State Budget
California Dreaming
NY Should Build Reserves to Prepare for a Rainy Day
March 12, 2018
California is a leader in funding reserves for a rainy day--New York State should follow its example.
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
State Budget
Twice as Much as Advertised
New York State Spending Growth
February 06, 2018
Spending growth in the NYS Fiscal Year 2019 Executive Budget will be 4.1 percent - more than twice what was claimed when the budget was released.
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
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
Economic Development
Learning from Past Mistakes
Examining Changes to the Excelsior Jobs Program
October 20, 2015
In 2008, CBC called for the elimination of the Empire Zones jobs program amid concerns it wasted public resources. In 2010, New York State replaced Empire Zones with the streamlined Excelsior Jobs Program. Excelsior was designed to avoid the errors of Empire Zones but until recently it has been difficult to assess to what degree it achieves its objectives.
Blog
Transportation
Best (and Worst) Stations by Subway Line
September 14, 2015
identifies the best and worst train stations in New York City Transit-MTA system.
Special Feature
Transportation
Subway Station Condition Map
August 31, 2015
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) latest survey of the condition of its 467 subway stations in 2012 showed more than one in four of all structural components were not in a satisfactory condition—known in the jargon as a “state of good repair” or SGR. This map reveals the condition of the components of all 467 subway stations.
Special Feature
Transportation
Facts About Commuting
August 27, 2015
Facts about commuting in the New York City metro region.
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.