At the outset of budget season, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) made 12 recommendations to improve New York State’s budgeting and fiscal management.

With session ending, CBC's new blog New York State Budget Process Reform—Little Progress answers the question: how much did Albany improve? Some, but not much.

The State fully implemented only one recommendation—to restore contract and procurement oversight to the Office of the State Comptroller—and made substantial progress on two more—to strengthen reserves (YES!) and fully fund the Authorities Budget Office.

Unfortunately, there is no progress to report on the remaining nine, including publishing basic financial plan tables with the one-house and enacted budgets and not using messages of necessity to bypass the aging requirement for budget bills. 

CBC again calls for a Legislative hearing this fall to move forward reforms to make next year’s budget process more transparent, rigorous, and accountable.