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Blog
Capital Spending
Mind the Gap
Funding Repair and Maintenance of New York City Infrastructure
July 26, 2010
Past neglect has created a need for nearly $5.6 billion in repair of existing facilities in New York City in order to bring them to satisfactory condition, known as a "state of good repair." Yet the City's capital budget allocates only about half, with the gap especially large for streets, hospitals, and parks.
Blog
Economic Development
End the Empire Zones Program and Adopt Excelsior
March 24, 2010
Explains why Empire Zones were ineffective and argues in favor of the improved features of Excelsior tax credits.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Simple But Significant
Savings from the Elimination of the Medicare Part B Reimbursement
December 19, 2010
As New York’s elected officials consider options for balancing budgets in the face of record deficits, they should eliminate a public employee fringe benefit rarely offered anywhere else: reimbursement for Medicare Part B premiums.
Blog
City Budget
What to Look for in the NYC November Modification
November 14, 2022
The modification is likely to be more substantial due to Mayor Eric Adams’ call for a Program to Eliminate the Gap, a rocky economy, and future gaps that could approach $10 billion.
Blog
City Budget
The City’s FY 2011 Budget: The Buck Stops Here
July 12, 2010
With significant budget gaps looming in the outyears and the end of nearly a decade of multi-billion dollar surpluses, it is disappointing that more has not been done to lower spending.
Blog
City Budget
A Budget Baker’s Dozen
13 Questions to Ask About NYC’s Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2023
February 10, 2022
Mayor Adams’ first Preliminary Budget will provide an important opportunity to see how he intends to “get stuff done,” root out “waste, fraud, and abuse,” and promote a “People’s Plan.”
Blog
Transportation
What to Look For in the MTA's November 2022 Budget Update
November 21, 2022
The MTA should seize the opportunity and runway created by federal aid to implement efficiency-focused operating reforms and restructure its long-term debt.
Blog
City Budget
18,000 Vacant City Jobs Is More Than Enough
Vacancy Reduction Should Not Impede Hiring; How NYC Manages Will
March 30, 2022
Any staffing issues are the result of management, system, and labor market challenges, not a shortage of available positions
Blog
City Budget
Six Fast Facts about the NYPD's Preliminary FY2023 Budget
March 18, 2022
Public safety is a top issue for New Yorkers, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) budget continues to garner attention and interest.
Blog
State Budget
Recommendations to Strengthen the State
NYS Priorities that Promote Recovery, Transparency, Accountability, and Fiscal Stability
January 04, 2022
Governor Kathy Hochul's budget and policy priorities provide the opportunity to build a strong fiscal future, and to improve transparency and accountability.
Blog
City Budget
Delaying the Pain
The truth about cost-cutting in New York City's November Plan
December 15, 2010
A closer look at the City November 2011 savings plan reveals two notable points: Nearly two-thirds consists of new revenue, and expenditure cuts are modest, although health, welfare, libraries and cultural institutions bear most of the burden.
Blog
Capital Spending
When Will the Capital Budget Cuts Really Arrive?
December 09, 2010
Failure to impose fiscal austerity on the infrastructure agenda is evident in growing levels of capital commitments.
Blog
State Budget
About Last Night: The Good News and the Bad
August 03, 2010
Review the State budget deal for FY2011: it partially addresses the current year deficit, but leaves fundamental issues unaddressed, and contains substantial risky elements.
Blog
City Budget
The Record on Reserves
New York City Fiscal Year 2023 Preliminary Budget Reserves
February 28, 2022
While this is a record in dollars, it is not the record as a percent of the City-funded budget.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
What is OPEB and Why Does it Cost $9.4 Billion?
December 05, 2010
The true cost of retiree health insurance and "other postemployment benefits," or OPEB, was $9.4 billion in fiscal year 2010. Why it cost so much and what should be done about it.
Blog
Education
High Time For Higher Education Funding Reform
April 13, 2010
Explains why the irrational and inequitable tuition policies at CUNY and SUNY should be replaced by a rational tuition policy that allows for regular increases but also does not reduce financial aid to students.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
The State and Local Pension Stretch
June 16, 2010
New York stands out for consistently setting aside adequate funds to make its employee pension systems fiscally sound, but political leaders are considering heading down a fiscally irresponsible path.
Blog
City Budget
Big Budget
NYC’s Adopted FY 2023 Budget—Spending and Growth
June 28, 2022
Adopted City Funds spending next year is $77.6 billion, a $5.5 billion (7.7 percent) increase over fiscal year 2022 and $1.9 billion more than the Executive Budget.
Blog
City Budget
Unnecessary Increase
Despite 18,000 Vacancies, NYC FY 2023 Executive Budget Adds 3,000 New Positions
May 04, 2022
Rather than add positions, the City should redistribute available vacancies across departments, within agencies, or across agencies.