Public Workforce

7 Things New Yorkers Should Know About Municipal Labor Contracts

May 20, 2013

Municipal government is the largest employer in New York City, employing almost 300,000 people to provide the services on which businesses, residents and visitors rely. This is an expensive enterprise: personnel costs, including salaries, health insurance and pensions, make up more than half of the City of New York’s $72 billion budget.

Reining in New York City's Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs

Apr 18, 2013

The growing cost of health insurance for city employees and retirees has to be brought under control. The City's employee unions, whose contracts have expired, may prefer to wait and negotiate with the next mayor, but the election won't change the fiscal reality: the City's share of health insurance premiums for city workers and retirees is high in comparison to norms in the private and public sectors.

Letters to the State Comptroller and NYSTRS on the Governor's "Fixed Rate" Pension Contribution Plan

Feb 25, 2013

I am writing to share the views of the Citizens Budget Commission on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to allow local governments to opt into a “fixed rate” contribution plan to fund their public employee pension obligations. We believe this proposal would endanger the future financial viability of the pension plans and recommend you reject it.

	Letter to the Comptroller
	Letter to NYSTRS

A Busy Day in Albany

Feb 20, 2013

On February 13th, lawmakers in the New York State Assembly had a busy day: they introduced eight bills enhancing the pension benefits of public employees and retirees. These bills would add at least $1.35 billion in costs to State and local employers.

City Workers, Pay Your Share

Feb 04, 2013

The cost of health insurance for New York City public employees and retirees is projected to grow by almost 40% by 2016 — rising to nearly $7 billion a year. That growth will amount to $1.5 billion of the $1.9 billion budget deficit projected for 2016.

Everybody’s Doing It: Health Insurance Premium-Sharing by Employees and Retirees in the Public and Private Sectors

Jan 28, 2013

The cost to taxpayers of health insurance for New York City public employees and retirees has more than doubled in the last 10 years. It’s projected to grow by almost 40 percent and comprise 70 percent of the budget deficit in 2016.

	Report: Everybody’s Doing It: Health Insurance Premium-Sharing by Employees and Retirees in the Public and Private Sectors
	Press Release

A Comparative Analysis of the Pay of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officers

Dec 03, 2012

This policy brief compares the wages PANYNJ police officers with those of the largest state and local police forces in the region, as well as a federal agency. The major finding of the report is that PANYNJ’s police officers are paid more generously than officers of most other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

	Policy Brief: A Comparative Analysis of the Pay of PANYNJ Police Officers
	Press Release: CBC Issues Report on Compensation of PANYNJ Police Officers

Interactive Map: Education Spending Per Student

Sep 20, 2012

How Sick Leave Can Be Bad for a Locality's Fiscal Health, and Health Insurance May Be Even Worse

Jul 02, 2012

Borrowing by local governments to pay for operating expenses is bad financial management; it forces future residents to pay for services consumed by those living in a jurisdiction today, often burdening children with the cost of benefits enjoyed by the current generation.

Restoring City Priorities Along With Spending Cuts

Jun 22, 2012

Each year at this time, the Mayor and the City Council engage in a “budget dance” over which of the spending cuts proposed in the Mayor’s budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 will be restored. But this year they’re dancing to the wrong tune.