Search
Showing 1 - 20 of 49
Op Ed
State Budget
Repeal the Film Tax Credit, But Don't Expect Savings Just Yet
Even if this wasteful program is killed in 2018, its expenditures will continue for years
December 13, 2017
The Citizens Budget Commission is a long-time critic of the New York State Film Tax Credit program and supports its repeal. However, due to some unusual provisions of state tax law, repeal of the credit will not yield immediate state savings.
Report
Energy & Environment
Keys to a Cap-and-Invest Design That’s Earth- and Economy-Focused
Recommendations for a Cost-Effective Program to Meet New York's Ambitious Climate Goals
November 28, 2023
While NYCI provides a great opportunity to reduce emissions in a cost-effective manner and fund critical investments strategically, its success depends on it being well designed and implemented.
Report
Health Care
Medicaid Supplemental Payments
The Alphabet Soup of Programs Sustaining Ailing Hospitals Faces Risks and Needs Reform
August 31, 2017
$5 billion in annual supplemental payments are important to the finances of many hospitals. Federal policy will shrink these payments; the impact will be most severe for NYC municipal hospitals.
Blog
Economic Development
No Extension without Evaluation
Reject Proposed Extension of Certain NYC Economic Development Tax Breaks Absent Appropriate Analysis
February 23, 2023
Prior evaluations found two of these programs to be ineffective; the bar to justify their extension should be appropriately higher.
Special Feature
Economic Development
Economic Development in the New York State Budget
June 14, 2017
Reporting is limited and differs by program. With $4.0 billion in annual state spending and tax expenditures, a significant investment is being made without enough information to evaluate its success.
Blog
Economic Development
Shrink, Don’t Expand, the New York State Film Tax Credit
March 06, 2023
The current program already is overly generous compared to other states and should be phased out.
Blog
State Budget
Budget Proposals with a Big Long-Term Payoff
March 16, 2017
The NYS FY2018 Executive Budget includes three proposals to reduce the State’s cost of providing retiree health insurance. Budget savings would be modest, but the reduction in the OPEB liability would be significant.
Blog
Health Care
Time to Rethink HCRA Taxes
April 18, 2017
Taxes initially earmarked for health care programs are now being transferred to the State's General Fund and used for other purposes. The Legislature should replace them in future budgets.
Report
Economic Development
11 Billion Reasons to Rethink
New York's Increasing Economic Development Spending
July 20, 2023
Despite improved disclosure about individual projects, State and local economic development spending continues to increase without sufficient evidence that these programs cost-effectively create jobs or are more beneficial than alternative uses of the funds.
Video
State Budget
Cuomo's Hollywood Fundraising Raises Eyebrows Regarding NY's Film Tax Credit
Spectrum News
November 16, 2017
Governor Andrew Cuomo is back in New York after a rare, overnight trip to California, fundraising with Hollywood executives whose industry has benefited from New York's $420 million film tax credit program.
Report
State Budget
Making Hay While the Sun Shines
A Plan to Strengthen New York State’s Rainy Day Fund
June 28, 2023
Today we are left playing catchup with the threats of storm clouds looming on the horizon.
Statement
State Budget
Statement on New York State Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Delay
March 31, 2023
While critical policy issues are being hammered out, little if any attention appears directed to how billions of dollars of added unfunded programs will explode the State’s already significant structural budget gap.
Report
State Budget
The Mid-Year Check-in
Six Takeaways from the NYS Financial Plan Update and Quick Start Budget Report
November 20, 2023
The fiscal news of the last three weeks makes one thing clear: This year’s budget process will be unlike those of recent years.
Blog
State Budget
What to Look for in New York State’s New Year
January 09, 2023
The State enters a new Legislative session and a new gubernatorial term in less favorable fiscal condition than a year ago and with threatening economic headwinds.
Blog
State Budget
Shifts and Levers: Meeting a 2 Percent Spending Target with Fiscal Gimmicks
February 14, 2017
How does the State budget keeps spending below 2 percent? With 4 fiscal gimmicks.
Blog
State Budget
First Take on the NYS FY2018 Executive Budget
January 19, 2017
How does the State budget look? Most proposals get mixed reviews.
Blog
State Budget
Pre-Budget Ruminations
What to Look for in the NYS Fiscal Year 2019 Executive Budget
December 17, 2017
With a reported gap between $4.4 billion and $6.3 billion, and billions in federal changes yet to be recognized, here's what CBC will ask when Governor Cuomo rolls out the 2019 Executive Budget.
Blog
State Budget
When 2 Percent Isn't 2 Percent
May 30, 2017
Adjustments to consistently track year-to-year reveal a 3.7% growth rate in fiscal year 2018.
Blog
Transportation
“Parity” for State Transportation Investments
A Misguided Misnomer
March 09, 2017
Do the State's transportation and transit investments really achieve "parity" between the DOT and the MTA? They don't -- and they shouldn't.