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Testimony
Economic Development
Testimony on Economic Development Programs
Delivered to the NYS Assembly Committee on Economic Development
August 03, 2016
Project-specific appropriations for economic development should cease at least until eligibility criteria are established and accountability mechanisms enhanced.
Blog
City Budget
The Citywide Savings Program: Bolder Steps Needed to Make Government More Efficient
May 24, 2016
Mayor Bill de Blasio's latest Citywide Savings Program proposes multiyear savings of $5.4 billion compared to just $2.9 billion proposed in last year’s Executive Budget. The $5.4 billion represents 1.7 percent of city-funded spending over the financial plan period; this is in the range of savings in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plans for each of the last four years of his administration. While this may seem like a bold stride, the new CSP still falls short in the nature of its savings proposals.
Video
Economic Development
State Economic Development Programs: Are We Getting Our Bang for Our Buck?
TWC News
September 29, 2016
Allegations in state government are bringing more light to the state's economic development - the cost of many programs continues to rise but the rate of return doesn't hold up. CBC's Dave Friedfel explains.
Report
Health Care
A Poor Way to Pay for Medicaid
Why New York Should Eliminate Local Funding for Medicaid
December 11, 2011
This paper examines the fiscal inequities and other problems that arise as a result of New York’s largelocal share for Medicaid financing.
Blog
City Budget
An Insufficient Savings Plan
February 24, 2016
Mayor Bill de Blasio's FY2017 budget proposal increased city-funded spending by $2.7 billion and included a Citywide Savings Program, or CSP, it was small relative to the size of the budget and savings programs of past years and insufficient to meaningfully offset the cost of new initiatives or to boost reserves.
Blog
State Budget
Balancing the State Budget – Halfway There, But Running Out of Gas?
December 19, 2011
The Governor should avoid more new taxes as the way to close the rest of the budget gap and instead focus on containing spending growth in Medicaid, pensions, education, and economic development.
Report
Economic Development
Increasing Without Evidence
NYS Economic Development Spending Update
September 26, 2016
This report tracks growth in NYS' economic development programs between 2010 and 2014. Little progress has been made on improving transparency and demonstrating effectiveness.
Report
Education
A Better Foundation Aid Formula
Funding Sound Basic Education with Only Modest Added Cost
December 12, 2016
This report explains why Foundation Aid, a need-based State school aid program, was developed, what is wrong with it, and how to make it better.
Report
Transportation
Access-A-Ride
Ways to Do the Right Thing More Efficiently
September 20, 2016
This report identifies strategies and options the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) can pursue to improve the financial outlook and quality of Access-A-Ride, the paratransit program.
Blog
Health Care
Improving the Way New York Pays for Medicaid
January 24, 2012
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2012-13 include an important first step towards fixing a longstanding flaw in the way New York pays for its Medicaid program.
Blog
State Budget
6 Things to Look for in New York State’s Mid-Year Budget Update
October 30, 2016
What are the important things to look out for in The Mid-Year Update to the FY 2017 Financial Plan? Coveres revenue projections, economic development, collective bargaining, medicaid, minimum wage, and budget gaps.
Blog
Taxes
New Revenues and the Path to Sustainable State Spending
March 07, 2011
Since the onset of the national recession the State has relied more extensively on new revenue measures than on recurring spending cuts.
Report
Economic Development
Recommendations for the Next Round of Economic Development Council Awards
October 10, 2012
This brief analyzes the first round of awards for New York State's Regional Economic Development Councils and provides recommendations to standardize and improve evaluation of programs, as well as move toward a unified economic development budget.
Blog
City Budget
Restoring City Priorities Along With Spending Cuts
June 21, 2012
The Mayor and City Council's “budget dance” focuses largely on child care slots and after-school programs, but should really be about the City’s overly generous contributions to the health insurance of former City employees and their spouses.
Report
State Budget
Predicting the Peak, Preparing for the Trough
An Examination of the Impact of a Possible Recession on New York State
June 20, 2016
The impact of a possible recession could be as high as $59 billion, or 18.2 percent of tax revenues over four years.
Blog
City Budget
Why the Latest PEG Is Not Likely to Be the Last in NYC's Budget
December 05, 2012
This blog explains why a savings plan, known as the "PEG" is necessary in the Nov 2013 NYC budget modification, examines the savings, and offers broader perspective on the city's fiscal challenges.
Report
Transportation
Benchmarking Efficiency for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Services
April 05, 2011
This report helps identify priorities for ongoing efforts to control costs at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority through benchmarking by comparing unit cost measures with other large urban transit agencies in the United States. It also suggests priorities for new efficiency initiatives.
Blog
Education
Improving the Poorly Targeted Proposed School Aid Increase
March 20, 2012
Reviews and recommends changes to the school aid proposal made in the NYS Executive Budget for FY2013.
Blog
State Budget
Stop the Wishful Thinking about a New York State Mid-Year “Surplus”
August 22, 2011
Talk of a surplus and using it for new initiatives should end immediately.
Blog
City Budget
The New York City Budget Since the Recession
Seven Rounds of Cuts and the Deepest Still to Come
February 06, 2011
Since 2008, Mayor Bloomberg has implemented seven rounds of cuts to find budget savings, and an eight round is likely due to anticipated reductions in State and federal aid.