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Blog
State Budget
5 Proposals that Should be Left Out of the FY21 Enacted Budget
March 29, 2020
New York State’s bleak fiscal outlook requires lawmakers pass a “bare bones” fiscal year 2021 budget that is focused on funding critical services and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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
2020 Vision
A Four-Pronged Approach to Focus on a Balanced, Transparent State Budget
January 09, 2020
As New York State aims to remedy the current year deficit and close next year’s budget gap, State leaders should be striving to prepare the State for the future.
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
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
State Budget
New York State Budget (Actually) Grows at 2 Percent, Assuming $2.5 Billion in Medicaid Savings Realized
February 20, 2020
Under 2? It's True! (This time.)
Blog
State Budget
New York Taxes: Layers of Liability
June 25, 2020
Any consideration of tax increases should include the impact on State and local economic competitiveness
Blog
State Budget
Flipping the Switch
Difficult Fiscal Decisions Compound as State Shifts from Spending Growth to Cuts
July 15, 2020
Flipping the switch from robust spending growth to spending cuts will require making significant hard choices to balance the budget and reduce future fiscal gaps.
Blog
City Budget
Federal Aid—Needed, But Unlikely to Solve New York State’s and New York City’s Fiscal Problems
A Look Back at Stimulus Funding During the Great Recession
December 01, 2020
Even with considerable additional federal aid the State and City still will have to implement significant actions.
Blog
Health Care
Maintaining Momentum on Medicaid Redesign
March 27, 2020
To ensure a sustainable Medicaid program that can help New Yorkers most in need in the future, the Executive and Legislature should continue the course correction started by the MRT, especially as they enact a budget during these troubled times.
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
Taxes
Let a Sleeping Tax Lie
New York Should Reject Proposals to Reinstate the Stock Transfer Tax
November 09, 2020
If the rebate were eliminated, essentially putting the tax back into effect, New York would become the only state to impose such a tax on the sale and transfer of stock.
Op Ed
Taxes
Don’t Bring Back the Stock Transfer Tax
City & State
October 23, 2020
It could drive business out of New York and won’t live up to revenue projections.
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.
Op Ed
State Budget
Better ways to balance state budget than stock transfer tax
Letter to the Editor
July 06, 2020
The state has other options to balance its budget.
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.
Op Ed
Economic Development
New York needs better return on economic investments
Albany Times Union
January 17, 2018
While upcoming corruption trials may provide a revealing behind the scenes look at state operations, they should not distract from the pressing need to reform the state's approach to economic development in this legislative session.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
A Budget Proposal That Seems Fiscally Responsible, But Doesn’t Tackle the True Problem
February 22, 2018
It's time to eliminate the expensive and risky benefits provided by the TDA.
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
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.