Search
Showing 1 - 20 of 51
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.
Statement
Transportation
Statement on MTA's "Fast Forward" Plan
May 23, 2018
Fast Forward, a plan to modernize New York City Transit presented by President Andy Byford today, is a serious and praiseworthy plan to improve the region's mass transit network.
Video
Economic Development
Friedfel Talks Economic Development Inititatives
Capital Tonight
July 12, 2018
Ten economic development bills passed the state legislature, but CBC says the current programs need to be reformed before anything new is added.
Video
Economic Development
Increasing Transparency and Economic Development Funding
Capital Tonight
September 04, 2018
There's an ongoing debate over the state's use of taxpayer money for economic development efforts, but a lot of investment happens at the local level, through Industrial Development Agencies.
Video
State Budget
CBC Report Analyzes State Progress
Capital Tonight
October 19, 2018
As Governor Cuomo's second term comes to a close, and voters decide whether to give him a third term, the Citizens Budget Commission is looking at how the state has fared over the past eight years.
Report
Transportation
4 Things You Should Know About the MTA's Commuter Railroads
April 18, 2018
The Long Island Rail Road is much more inefficient than Metro-North. Here's why.
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.
Op Ed
Transportation
Latest value capture proposal could harm NYC
City taxes should not be diverted to the MTA without local input
March 22, 2018
While value capture makes sense in theory, any such arrangement should be tailored to specific projects and circumstances - with the agreement of the City.
Report
Transportation
Getting Back on Track
Replacing and Repairing Subway Cars Will Be Expensive and Take More Than a Decade
July 18, 2018
Decisions to redirect capital dollars to other priorities and stretch inspection and maintenance cycles contributed to the decline in subway reliability, and challenges lay ahead for plans to purchase 3,600 new subway cars and retrofit 1,200 existing cars.
Letter
Capital Spending
City Should Evaluate Project Labor Agreements
Letter to Mayor de Blasio
July 05, 2018
With the Capital Commitment Plan now topping $82 billion, it is more important than ever to find ways to reduce costs and speed up project delivery.
Statement
Transportation
Statement on the Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup Report
December 18, 2018
The Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup Report released today provides a sober look at the fiscal and managerial challenges facing the MTA.
Report
Transportation
NYS Infrastructure Policy
A Background Paper for the CBC Conference on The Most Important Fiscal and Economic Issues Facing New York State
December 13, 2018
This paper was prepared by HR&A Advisors as a background paper for the December 2018 CBC Conference on most important fiscal and economic issues facing New York State. The paper provides recommendations for how NYS should prioritize, fund, and deliver key infrastructure investments.
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.
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations for Legislative Action on the NYS Executive Budget for FY2019
March 05, 2018
CBC's take on proposals that should be supported, modified, or rejected.
Report
Transportation
Financing Transportation Services in the New York Region
March 28, 2004
This report examines the financing policies for passenger transportation services in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. Included are 25 entities consisting of the states of New York and New Jersey, the Port Authority, the MTA, New Jersey Transit, four additional authorities operating or financing toll roads, the City of New York, and 15 counties.
Statement
State Budget
Statement on NYS Executive Budget for FY2019
January 17, 2018
The overall approach is to use short-term fixes that do not address the long-term structural problem of spending outpacing revenues.
Video
Economic Development
Scorecard on economic development programs
Spectrum News
April 27, 2018
On Wednesday, Governor Cuomo outlined plans for the state's eighth annual regional economic development council competition, calling the program a success. But not everyone is convinced the approach is working.
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
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
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.