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Blog
Transportation
Who Pays When “The City” Gives Money to the MTA?
May 05, 2015
Calls for “the City” to provide more funding should be clear about who is really being asked to foot the bill: New York City taxpayers already provide most of the MTA's revenue through the combination of local, regional, and state taxes.
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
City Budget
Agency Focus: DEP
Budget Analysis
September 21, 2014
Three entities govern New York City's water and sewer system: the Department of Environmental Protection operates and maintains the system; the New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority (WFA) borrows to finance capital investments; and the Water Board sets rates for customers to meet financing needs. Learn more.
Blog
State Budget
The Challenge of Producing a $2 Billion Surplus
January 16, 2014
With school aid and Medicaid growing at annual rates at or above 4 percent, all other categories of spending, including agency operations, will face offsetting reductions to the plan if the net increase in overall state spending is to be kept to 2 percent.
Blog
City Budget
A PEG by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet
April 19, 2015
Mayor de Blasio voices heartfelt interest in finding ways to save money, but he does not want to call it a PEG or put such name in his plan, at least in part because of its identification with prior administrations.
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
Pensions & Benefits
An Expensive Pension Enhancement Bill is on the Move
June 08, 2014
About the bill to increase disability pension benefits for police officers hired after July 1, 2009, when a more financially sustainable “Tier III” plan went into effect.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Giving Credit Where It’s Due? New York City’s $1.3 Billion in Health Insurance Savings
December 28, 2014
In its recent mid-year budget modification the de Blasio administration credited a coalition of municipal employee unions with achieving $1.3 billion in savings in the City’s employee and retiree health insurance costs. Yet the unions have not agreed to any changes in the plan, and the City and the unions have taken no actions to reduce costs. How can this be?
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
Wise Measures: Three Proposals To Retain In The FY2015 Budget
March 20, 2014
Three proposals in the FY2015 budget that are meaningful reforms; they should not be omitted or watered down as they were in the Senate and Assembly “one-house” budget resolutions.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Big Decisions Before Albany Do Not Deter Sweeteners
June 09, 2015
Tracking bills enhancing benefits for public employees introduced in the 2015 Legislative Session
Blog
City Budget
Where Do We Go From Here?
Steering New York City’s Finances in Fiscal Year 2015
June 30, 2014
This blog post examines what’s new in the fiscal year 2015 budget and makes recommendations for steering the City’s finances over the next four years.
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
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
State Budget
Guidelines for Wisely Using the $5 Billion Windfall
December 15, 2014
Three questions for determining good uses of one-time revenues.
Blog
State Budget
The Ongoing Challenge of Producing a $2 Billion Surplus: An Update
January 22, 2014
On January 21 Governor Andrew Cuomo presented a $142.1 billion fiscal year 2015 Executive Budget with a projected $2 billion annual surplus beginning in fiscal year 2016-17. How can it be achieved?
Blog
City Budget
The Cost of More Cops: A Full Accounting
August 03, 2015
Police officers have a greater budget impact than most other City employees: what's the cost of 1,300 new cops?
Blog
State Budget
The Challenge of Staying Under the 2 Percent State Spending Cap
May 19, 2014
The discipline of a 2 percent spending cap has markedly improved the State’s fiscal condition and spurred key reforms in Medicaid and State operations.
Blog
Taxes
How Much to Bank on? When it Comes to Revenue Forecasting, Better Safe Than Sorry
April 12, 2015
What kind of impact could a recession have on New York City's revenues?
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.