The Latest News and Publications from the Citizens Budget Commission http://www.cbcny.org New Yorkers already pay the highest local taxes in the nation by a long shot, and the state is about to make the problem worse. This week, the Legislature passed a bill that will further tie the hands of local officials in dealing with locally funded obligations. http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=699420&category=OPINION The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) announced today the appointment of Carol Kellermann as its new president. She will start July 7th. http://www.cbcny.org/CBC%20Appoints%20New%20President.html Local property taxes in New York State are far too high, and the State needs to stop forcing costs onto local communities that can no longer afford them... http://www.cbcny.org/CBC%20SUPPORTS%20RECOMMENDATIONS%20OF%20LPTRC.html To fund more appropriate taxpayer relief mechanisms the Middle Class STAR program should be replaced with an improved circuit breaker... http://www.cbcny.org/Testimony%20for%20a%20Joint%20Hearing%20on%20Property%20Taxes.html The budget offers a realistic assessment of the economic problems facing New York City - problems whose full extent has yet to be determined - and presents a sound strategy for dealing with these challenges in the coming year... http://www.cbcny.org/Testimony%20on%202009%20Executive%20Budget.html The Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 released today by Mayor Michael Bloomberg is based on a realistic assessment of the economic problem facing New York City and presents a sound strategy for dealing with it in the coming fiscal year... http://www.cbcny.org/Press_Release_09_Executive_Budget.html I am writing to express the Citizens Budget Commission’s views on the issue to be considered at the Financial Control Board’s special meeting on April 30, 2008. We are aware that the FCB’s procedures... http://www.cbcny.org/Letter_to_the_Financial_Control_Board.html Today is the day to act affirmatively on congestion pricing for New York City. The Citizens Budget Commission initially supported a congestion pricing plan... http://www.cbcny.org/Letter_to_the_Assembly_Congestion_Pricing.html The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released today the following statement on the “fictional” budget practices of the New York City Council... http://www.cbcny.org/Press_Release_4_4_2008.htm The Executive Budget you will present next month is a critical juncture for New York City and for your mayoralty. This is the last budget you will propose and administer... http://www.cbcny.org/CBC%202008%20NYC%20Letter.htm The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released today the following statement on legislation under consideration by the New York State Legislature that would impose unfunded mandates... http://www.cbcny.org/Statement%20on%20Unfunded%20Mandates%20PRESS%20RELEASE.pdf I am writing to convey the Citizens Budget Commission's recommendations for Legislative changes to the Executive Budget presented by Governor Eliot Spitzer on January 22, 2008 and updated with 21 Day Amendments on February 12, 2008... http://www.cbcny.org/Letter%20to%20the%20Legislature%202008-09%20WEB.pdf In December, the CBC released a report on the condition of the City's infrastructure and the nature of the City's capital planning processes. Councilman Garodnick, you may recall speaking at... http://www.cbcny.org/City%20Council%20Infrastructure%20Testimony.pdf The Citizens Budget Commission recently looked at the option of expanding New York's existing circuit breaker program to provide targeted relief to the neediest taxpayers... http://www.cbcny.org/Circuit_Breakers_Support.pdf New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his financial plan for fiscal year 2008-09 on January 24th. In response, the Citizens Budget Commission(CBC) released the following statement... http://www.cbcny.org/Statement%20on%20budget%201-24-08.pdf Facing a budget gap of $4.7 billion, and in light of other needs, State leaders need to take steps to identify and implement measures that will produce recurring savings.... http://www.cbcny.org/Prison%20Press%20Statement.pdf