Choices about public spending should be made using good data about the outcomes of investment, and citizens should be able to obtain this information easily in order to hold their lawmakers accountable. CBC's 2006 report "Giving Taxpayers More Bang for the Buck” analyzed the types of data provided in the MMR on agency operations and identified some serious shortcomings. The Mayor's office has made considerable improvement since this report was released, but more needs to be done.
The $1.6 billion in budget cuts announced by Mayor Bloomberg last month are the most recent example of the consequences of the national recession for local governments. New York provides a troubling example of how the inability to contain costs associated with a large municipal workforce imposes a greater burden on the most vulnerable populations, notably low-income children.
As the City begins a fragile economic recovery, this financial plan presents a crucial opportunity to take actions that will place the City on a firmer fiscal footing and ensure its competitiveness for the long-term.
Executive Vice President and Director of Research Charles Brecher pens this op-ed that discusses ways to rein in growth of the City's retirement benefits, notably penions and health insurance.
Research Director Chuck Brecher outlines 5 alternative solutions for saving up to $2 billion in Mayor Bloomberg's preliminary budget. Each of these proposals would avoid widespread layoffs and the reduction of other vital services.
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