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Blog
Transportation
Watch the (MTA Budget) Gap!
Operating Budget Is Worse Than It Appears
August 07, 2019
The MTA's 2020 Preliminary Budget and four-year financial plan reveals an alarming fiscal outlook.
Blog
Economic Development
NY’s Economic Development Programs Costliest in the Nation
April 07, 2017
It's official: NY's economic development programs cost more than in any other state.
Blog
State Budget
New York’s $1 Billion Brownfield Cleanup Program
March 17, 2015
Overview of Brownfield Cleanup Program
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
Economic Development
Complement, Don't Duplicate
Targeting NYC Small Business Recovery Programs
June 21, 2021
It is critically important for the City to identify potential gaps first by determining which businesses are eligible for which existing programs and whether those programs reasonably meet their needs.
Blog
Economic Development
Learning from Past Mistakes
Examining Changes to the Excelsior Jobs Program
October 20, 2015
In 2008, CBC called for the elimination of the Empire Zones jobs program amid concerns it wasted public resources. In 2010, New York State replaced Empire Zones with the streamlined Excelsior Jobs Program. Excelsior was designed to avoid the errors of Empire Zones but until recently it has been difficult to assess to what degree it achieves its objectives.
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.
Blog
Transportation
Stabilized, for Now
The MTA's Operating Budget's Long-Run Outlook
July 17, 2023
Taking steps now to start closing future gaps will ensure changes do not have negative impacts on services or the economy.
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
Transportation
Getting the Pricing Right
Six Recommendations for Congestion Pricing
July 28, 2021
As the Traffic Mobility Review Board considers its recommendations and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority determines the policies and implements the program, they should follow six recommendations
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
Economic Development
Governor Cuomo Should Veto 3 Economic Development Bills
2019 Economic Development Scorecard
July 09, 2019
Three bills to create new economic development programs or expand existing programs passed both houses during the 2019 legislative session. The Governor should veto all three bills.
Blog
Economic Development
Economic Development Bigger in State Budget, But Benefits Unclear
April 15, 2015
Since 2011 New York leaders have restrained growth in the state’s operating budget; in contrast, the scale and scope of questionable economic development programs continue to be expanded significantly. In 2014 state and local spending for these activities totaled $8 billion.
Blog
Taxes
Follow the Money
The MTA’s New Revenues
April 05, 2019
The NYS Adopted FY 2020 Budget directs three revenue sources to support the MTA. This blog clarifies what the revenue streams are and how they will flow to the lockbox.
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.
Blog
Transportation
Is the Enhanced Station Initiative a Good Idea?
July 20, 2017
Is the enhancement of 32 stations at a cost of nearly $1 billion worth the trade-off against other capital needs?
Blog
Economic Development
NYS Legislature Introduces 61 Economic Development Bills
April 24, 2019
Dozens of bills to expand existing economic development programs and create new ones have been introduced during the legislative session.
Blog
Economic Development
6 New Bills Added to Economic Development Scorecard
June 06, 2019
Dozens of bills to expand existing economic development programs and create new ones have been introduced during the legislative session.
Blog
Economic Development
Breaking Down the Amazon HQ2 Deal:
Facts and Takeaways
November 21, 2018
Amazon has committed to creating 25,000 full-time high-paying jobs over ten years, investing approximately $2.5 billion, and building 4 million square feet of office space at its new headquarters in Long Island City, with the possibility of expanding to 8 million square feet and 40,000 jobs. To facilitate this investment, Amazon will receive benefits of up to $1.7 billion from New York State and $1.8 billion from New York City. This blog explains the incentive package provided by the State and City and offers five takeaways about the deal and its lessons for future economic development policy.
Blog
Transportation
Principles for Congestion Pricing
February 13, 2019
Motorists should pay a greater share of the costs of mass transit to offset the negative impacts of auto use. CBC recommends five principles to guide the crafting of a congestion pricing program