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Op Ed
City Budget
The “20-20-20-20” Dilemma
The Need to Curtail New York City’s Legacy Costs
August 03, 2016
A giant and rapidly growing slice of the New York City budget pays for "legacy costs" - pensions, retiree health benefits, and debt service - which already exceed 20 percent of the budget and will expand by 20 percent to more than $20 billion in annual spending by fiscal year 2020. But the City can take steps to deal with it.
Blog
City Budget
The “20-20-20-20” Dilemma: Legacy Costs in the New York City Budget
July 22, 2016
A giant slice of the New York City budget pays for costs that are the legacy of commitments made in the past: debt service, pensions, and retiree health insurance. These legacy costs already exceed 20 percent of the budget and will expand by 20 percent to more than $20 billion in annual spending by fiscal year 2020.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Ten Benefit Enhancements Poised to Go to Governor’s Desk
June 17, 2016
10 benefit sweeteners passed both houses in 2016 and were delivered to the Governor.
Op Ed
City Budget
The Rapidly Rising Cost of City Workers
New York City Employees Get $138,000 in Pay and Benefits, and Rising
June 09, 2016
The mayor and City Council quickly came to an agreement on the details of an adopted budget for fiscal year 2017, but little attention has been paid to spending projected over the course of the five-year financial plan. We ought to focus, and hold onto our wallets.
Op Ed
City Budget
Make NYC’s Retiree Health Benefit Trust More Trustworthy
May 25, 2016
The City of New York has a $70 billion liability for retiree health insurance costs and other post-employment benefits (OPEB), not including pensions. These benefits are contractually owed to retired city employees and are largely unfunded.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Legislature Introduces Even More Benefit Sweeteners
May 18, 2016
The State Legislature has introduced 8 new bills to enhance the benefits of State and local public employees and retirees in the 2016 session.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
2016 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
May 02, 2016
The Citizens Budget Commission’s 2016 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard identifies more than 60 such bills active this session. These bills could cost the State and local governments hundreds of millions of dollars per year, and since about half the bills do not specify a fiscal impact, the potential costs could be significantly greater.
Blog
State Budget
Pass Governor’s Proposal to Reform State Retiree Health Insurance Benefits
March 13, 2016
State of New York retirees with more than 10 years of service receive health insurance benefits substantially more generous than those offered by private sector and most public sector employers. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Budget for FY2017 includes a fair proposal to reduce these growing costs, and the Legislature should adopt it.
Op Ed
State Budget
Albany Handcuffs New York’s Cities
July 04, 2012
Local governments in New York are under serious and growing fiscal pressure, and the Legislature isn’t doing enough to ease the burden. Unfortunately, the Legislature seems oblivious.
Blog
City Budget
Restoring City Priorities Along With Spending Cuts
June 21, 2012
The Mayor and City Council's “budget dance” focuses largely on child care slots and after-school programs, but should really be about the City’s overly generous contributions to the health insurance of former City employees and their spouses.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Sneak Labor Giveaway
May 05, 2012
Across New York, the cost of health benefits for retired government employees is growing so rapidly that it threatens to crowd out funding for essential government services. Rather than lay off police or close libraries, public officials may want to use their discretion to alter retiree health insurance — but some state legislators are trying to take away that discretion.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
The Next Challenge: Retiree Health Benefits
April 16, 2012
Pension reform, done. Next up, retiree health insurance and OPEB.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
New York State’s Pension Plan
March 12, 2012
Deferrals of pension fund contributions by New York State and localities relies on unconvincing arguments by the State Comptroller that the plan is justified by the need for short-term relief from rising pension costs and that it is transparent.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Pension Reform: Firefighters Will Not Be Running Into Burning Buildings at Age 65
March 06, 2012
Debunks misconception that "Tier VI" proposal would have employees whose duties require certain physical capacities to work until age 65.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Cuomo’s Reforms Are Perfectly Fair
February 21, 2012
Gov. Cuomo’s proposed “Tier VI” pension formula for future state and local government employees is more than fair by national standards. With New Yorkers now paying more than twice the US average per person for public-employee pensions, it’s time to rein in these costs.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
A Reasonable Proposal: Sharing More of the Cost of Public Sector Pensions with Employees
February 15, 2012
Increasing the employee contribution rate for public pensions in New York State is not unreasonable. Comparisons with nationwide norms show proposal would move New York toward the middle of the pack among states.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
NY Retirement Systems: Still Out of Line
January 25, 2012
NY requires unusally low rates of employee contribution -- meaning taxpayers largely shoulder the cost of providing pensions, which has grown sharply over the last decade.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
A More Flexible Pension Plan
January 25, 2012
Part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “Tier VI” proposal to make pension benefits for public employees of New York’s State and local government more affordable and sustainable over the long term is an optional 401(k)-style plan, already used widely in the private sector and becoming more common in the public sector.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Finally Retire New York's Overpriced Pensions
January 22, 2012
President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed urging the legislature to pass Governor Cuomo's proposal to modernize the State's pension system by offering new employees a 401(k)-style option.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Carol Kellermann: Pension Reform is Highest Priority
January 16, 2012
President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed urging Governor Cuomo to pursue pension reform in his 2012-2013 Executive Budget.