With the city's 2011 operating budget recently approved -- and the $46 billion, five-year capital plan up for review in the coming months -- it is worth asking how well current budgets provide for repair and maintenance of our roads, bridges, tunnels, parks and other public infrastructure. The answer is disappointing.
The fiscal realities of the time have not deterred the Legislature from advancing dozens of bills enhancing benefits for State and local employees and retirees. The CBC has been tracking the progress of 25 of these bills on its annual Sweetener Scorecard.
The Charter Revision Commission's comprehensive assessment of the structure of city government has prompted a debate about the desirability of providing formula budgets, often referred to as "independent budgets", to particular agencies and offices.
