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Testimony
Taxes
New York City Property Tax Reform
Testimony Submitted to the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform
November 27, 2018
CBC makes recommendations for property tax reform to fix problems with transparency and equity of the system.
Video
Taxes
The New York City Property Tax
Problems, Inequities, and Potential Reforms
September 13, 2018
NYC Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform is charged with recommending reforms to make the NYC property tax fairer, simpler, and more transparent. CBC, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Wagner convened a panel to discuss the current property tax system and the reforms that should be pursued.
Testimony
Taxes
Comments on New York City Property Tax Reform
December 04, 2019
The balancing act facing legislators as they consider proposals to reform the property tax is how to increase equity, fairness, and transparency, while maintaining fiscal stability and reliability.
Blog
Taxes
New York City Homeowners
Who's Got the Unfairest Tax Burden of Them All?
September 12, 2018
One of the basic principles of good tax policy is equity: similarly situated taxpayers should have similarly sized tax bills. New York City’s property tax system does not comport with this principle.
Podcast episode
City Budget
Episode 59: 1981
November 16, 2018
The data point for today is 1981, the year in which the State Legislature enacted S7000A, the landmark bill that formalized the current property tax system for New York City. A response to the Hellerstein case, which found the system was in violation of State law, S7000A essentially codified the status quo.In doing so, it established a system of property classification, fractional assessments, caps, phase-ins, and class shares that is still with us 37 years later. These structural features and statutory requirements are the root of the system’s inequities and complexities. A home worth $500,000 can face the same tax bill as a home worth $1.5 million, while the value of a condominium unit, according to the City, is a fraction of its sale price. In fact, some buildings have values that are below the sale price of individual units. And commercial and rental property faces a higher average property tax burden than 1-, 2- and 3-family homes.
These inequities and problems have led to repeated calls for reform, including pending litigation. This past May, Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson formed the Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform. In September, the Citizens Budget Commission, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Robert Wagner School of Public Service held a panel to discuss the problem, inequities and potential reforms
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the NYCHA Physical Needs Assessment
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Public Housing
November 15, 2018
NYCHA has an astounding $32 billion in capital needs, a nearly fivefold increase over the last decade. Today nearly all its properties require substantial rehabilitation.
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.
Blog
Taxes
Pied-à-Terre Tax
Appealing but Problematic
March 13, 2019
The pied-à-terre tax is appealing politically because it is levied on wealthy people with means to pay and nonresidents who do not vote. Nevertheless, it is problematic for several reasons.
Report
City Budget
$1.1 Billion in NYC Public Leases
Better Management Needed to Control Rising Costs
August 27, 2019
NYC spent more than $1.1 billion to lease space for public facilities and offices—an amount that has grown 40 percent since fiscal year 2014.
Blog
Taxes
Follow the Money
The MTA’s New Revenues
April 05, 2019
The NYS Adopted FY 2020 Budget directs three revenue sources to support the MTA. This blog clarifies what the revenue streams are and how they will flow to the lockbox.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Commends State Legislators' Vote Against School District Borrowing
June 29, 2011
CBC sent a letter of commendation to the State Legislators who voted against school district borrowing for pension contributions (A6309/S4067).
Statement
State Budget
Statement on the NYS FY2019 Budget
March 31, 2018
The budget gap will be closed using short-term measures instead of restraint in and reform of spending commitments.
Press Release
City Budget
CBC Recommends Budget Strategies for Mayor de Blasio's Second Term
January 26, 2018
In order to reach, and then sustain, budget stability in the Mayor’s second term, the budget should contain spending growth; build reserves; reduce the size of the capital plan and the cost of capital projects; and strengthen finances at NYCHA and NYC H+H.
Blog
Housing
NYCHA's Untapped Assets
How NYCHA Can Maximize the Value of Infill Development
October 02, 2018
CBC illustrates how changes to an "infill" development project’s location or affordability mix can significantly affect revenue and units rehabilitated at NYCHA.
Blog
Education
Funding a Sound Basic Education in 2020
March 07, 2019
Despite significant funding increases over the past decade, some districts in New York State still do not have the resources to provide a sound basic education.
Op Ed
City Budget
Vote yes on a rainy day fund for New York City
New York Daily News
October 21, 2019
When New Yorkers head to the polls to vote, they will find five important ballot proposals, but one in particular is worth supporting because it would make an important change to how the city manages its budget.
Blog
Taxes
The Tax Hike’s Silver Lining
December 07, 2011
If the temporary personal income tax hike is the price we pay for long-term reforms that enhance infrastructure, encourage job growth, make the state and local tax system more equitable, and reduce future pension costs, then it is a price worth paying.
Testimony
Education
State Education Aid Proposal for 2019-2020
Testimony Submitted to a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Education
February 06, 2019
In the aggregate New York State spends enough to provide all students with a sound basic education; however, State school aid is not targeted well enough to achieve this goal in all districts.
Op Ed
Education
New York keeps shortchanging poor students
And Cuomo’s Foundation Aid formula will do little to fix it
March 19, 2018
Fixing the existing Foundation Aid formula would allow the state to fully fund a sound basic education with current resources.