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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?
Report
Energy & Environment
12 Things New Yorkers Should Know About Their Garbage
May 21, 2014
This report highlights the reasons for the surprisingly high cost of this essential service, including inefficiencies that the City should address in its upcoming negotiations with sanitation workers.
Statement
Taxes
Statement Regarding the New York State Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Taxes
February 16, 2022
The enacted State budget should allow the business tax increase to sunset and should restrain spending to allow the personal income tax increase to sunset sooner or at least as scheduled.
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
Public Workforce
Three Questions about 1,000 New Police Officers
June 18, 2014
As the New York City budget for fiscal year 2015 nears adoption, one of the more expensive Council initiatives, at an estimated cost of almost $100 million annually, is the hiring of 1,000 new police officers to increase staffing at police precincts.
Report
Energy & Environment
Getting the Fiscal Waste Out of Solid Waste Collection in New York City
September 23, 2014
With a new mayoral administration, a new sanitation commissioner, and an expired contract with municipal sanitation workers, redesigning the public and private components of local waste collection would save about $300 million annually in the long term. The Mayor and City Council should make this restructuring a goal and begin a multiyear phase-in.
Testimony
Energy & Environment
Testimony on the State of New York City Recycling
Submitted to New York City Council Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
September 20, 2022
Increasing recycling with a focus on cost-effective strategies can deliver both fiscal savings and environmental benefits.
Letter
State Budget
CBC Recommendations on Tax Relief and Reform Proposals in Executive Budget
March 05, 2014
This letter expresses support for Executive Budget tax reforms, but recommends that action on the property tax relief proposals be deferred until their design is improved and the surplus necessary to sustain them is achieved.
Statement
State Budget
Statement on the New York State Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Agreement
April 07, 2022
The State does not appear to have sufficiently balance priorities between relief and recovery now and protecting future New Yorkers from the next emergency or recession
Report
Economic Development
Improving New York City’s Land Use Decision-Making Process
September 06, 2022
This report examines and identifies why New York’s land use decision-making process impedes action to address New York’s needs and recommends improvements.
Statement
State Budget
Statement on the NYS Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2023
January 18, 2022
Governor Hochul today proposed her Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget amidst continued strong receipts, New Yorkers’ significant needs, and ongoing economic uncertainty.
Op Ed
State Budget
Getting Our Money’s Worth from N.Y.
New York Daily News
November 29, 2022
With the election behind us, Gov. Hochul and the Legislature can now focus squarely on policies and programs that will shape the state’s future.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on NYCHA and New York City's Fiscal Year 2023 Preliminary Budget
Submitted to the Council Committee on Public Housing
March 08, 2022
There needs to be a clear understanding that the housing authority’s operations and financial outlook are highly stressed as well
Report
Economic Development
Determining an Appropriate Buffalo Stadium Subsidy
Don't Just Wing It
March 21, 2022
New York does not have a good track record of demonstrating that its economic development programs yield benefits exceeding their costs.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on New York City’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2023 Budget
Submitted to the City Council Committee on Finance
March 02, 2022
To truly set the City on a path to fiscal stability, the Administration should follow these preliminary steps with actions that substantively restructure how the City delivers services and manages its finances.
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.
Report
City Budget
Track to Have Impact
How to Create NYC's Needed Federal COVID Aid Tracker
January 24, 2022
To support the COVID-19 response and recovery, an unprecedented level of federal aid has been flowing to New York City.
Report
Education
Vote "No" on the Smart Schools Bond Act
October 19, 2014
While enhancing the use of technology in schools is a popular cause, the Smart Schools Bond Act is ill-conceived and deserves a "no" vote for three reasons discussed in this report.
Report
City Budget
PEG for Productivity
NYC's Fiscal Year 2023 Program to Eliminate the Gap
April 05, 2022
To increase the City’s fiscal stability and the quality of priority services, identifying and implementing efficiencies to reduce recurring costs without reducing services should be a high priority.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on the Recommendations of the NYC Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Finance
November 15, 2022
While momentum for property tax reform was slowed by the pandemic, the need for it has not diminished.