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Testimony
Transportation
Public Comment on the Proposed Structure For the Central Business District Tolling Program
Submitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
February 29, 2024
While the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) has long held the position that there should not be credits for bridge or tunnel crossings, we believe the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s (TMRB) congestion pricing toll recommendations, as a whole, are reasonable.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the New York City Housing Authority and the City’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
New York City Council Committee on Public Housing
March 12, 2024
Many critical steps should be taken quickly to stabilize NYCHA’s budget and improve physical conditions.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on Public Safety Preliminary Budget Hearing
Submitted to the City Council Committee on Public Safety
March 20, 2024
CBC recently released “Straight from New Yorkers,” our 2023 Resident Survey, which provides a comprehensive, statistically valid, post-pandemic view into how New Yorkers feel about the quality of life in the city and how they rate government services.
Report
Economic Development
Overhauling the New York Power Authority's Economic Development Programs
September 22, 2009
This report focuses on the numerous subsidized power programs for economic development run by the New York Power Authority. It is the second in a series, the intent of which is to identify ways that New York's current tools can be used more effectively.
Testimony
Energy & Environment
Testimony on NY Power Authority Economic Development Programs
Delivered to a Joint Session of State Committees
September 23, 2009
A testimony before a number of State Senate and Assembly committees which reviews the findings of a recent CBC report on the efficacy of NYPA's economic development programs.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Out of Balance
A Comparison of Public and Private Employee Benefits in New York City
December 16, 2009
The CBC and the Partnership for New York City surveyed large private firms in New York City to provide a basis for comparing the health insurance and pension benefits of private sector workers with those of municipal employees.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Six-Figure Civil Servants
Average Compensation Cost Of New York City Public Employees
January 08, 2009
In fiscal year 2008, the average compensation cost per New York City full-time employee was $106,743; this figure represents a system out of sync with the private sector and an opportunity to limit the growth of the City’s liability in the future while continuing to provide fair and adequate compensation to the City’s employees. Three factors that have driven the growth in compensation among City employees are: 1) Pay increases are directly attributable to contract settlements with unions; 2) More generous terms of the health insurance benefits offered by the City, as compared to the private sector and other state and local governments; and 3) The benefit retirement plans offered by the City that lock in the City’s future payouts to retirees based on the employee’s pay, years of employment and age at retirement among other factors. CBC offers three recommendations in response to these factors.
Video
Housing
Conversation with NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and NYCHA Chair Jamie Rubin
How NYCHA plans to invest $60B over 5 years
March 27, 2024
Lisa Bova-Hiatt is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New York City Housing Authority, and Jamie Rubin is the Chair of the New York City Housing Authority.
Testimony
Transportation
Testimony on 2010 MTA Capital Plan
Delivered to State Senate Standing Committees
December 03, 2009
Testimony before the New York State Senate Standing Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Investigations and Government Operations on the MTA's 2010-2014 capital plan.
Letter
Transportation
Letter to the Governor Regarding Ravitch Commission
January 28, 2009
In this letter CBC agrees, for the most part, with a report released by the Commission on Metropolitan Transportation Authority Financing but offers suggestions for improvement. Specifically, CBC supports legislation to implement the Commission’s core recommendations (with revision), which are highlighted in the testimony.
Letter
State Budget
Recommendations for FY 2009-2010 State Budget
February 02, 2009
This letter to the state legislature suggests two strategic directions to guide budget policy and offers a roadmap that avoids harmful tax increases and makes spending better serve New Yorkers by suggesting reforms in five key areas: Medicaid, school aid, correctional facilities, public employee benefits, and programs like STAR and Empire Zones.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Urges the Governor to Veto a Benefit Sweetener for Police and Firefighters
May 29, 2009
This letter from the CBC urges the Governor to veto A3426/S1409, a bill that would extend Tier II provisions to all police officers and firefighters who join a public retirement system on or after July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2011.
Podcast episode
Energy & Environment
85%, with Doreen Harris and Basil Seggos
January 26, 2024
85% is the amount New York State must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The State’s Cap-and-Invest program is a key strategy to cap and reduce emissions, auction emission rights, and invest proceeds in energy transition. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYS Energy Research and Development Authority, and Basil Seggos, Commissioner of NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, joined CBC to discuss Cap-and-Invest, and much more.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Encourages Legislatures to Avoid Pension Sweetener Legislation
June 02, 2009
This letter notifies the Legislature that the CBC has issued a "Pension Sweetener Scorecard" that tracks legislative and gubernatorial actions regarding pension benefits and highlights those actions for the media and the public. These sweeteners are often enacted over the objections of elected heads of local governments and always at the expense of taxpayers.
Podcast episode
Housing
$60 billion, with Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Jamie Rubin
April 05, 2024
$60 billion is how much NYCHA plans to invest in its infrastructure over 5 years. Facing ongoing challenges such as budget gaps, weakening rent collection, and deteriorating physical conditions, NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Chair Jamie Rubin shared their strategies for managing the nation's largest public housing system.
Podcast episode
Education
$39.5 billion, with Chancellor David Banks and Emma Vadehra
March 05, 2024
$39.5 billion is spent by NYC annually to educate our students. The New York City Public Schools has an enormous and challenging task: educate and develop 900,000 students from a wide diversity of backgrounds and needs. Are we getting the return we need on our dollars? How are our students doing? NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks and Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Emma Vadehra discuss.
Report
State Budget
Review of New York State Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Budget
April 30, 2009
The CBC reviews and assesses the 9 bills that comprise the FY 2009-10 New York State Budget. The key points of this assessment include: 1) Spending remains high and few cuts were achieved; 2) no concessions were agreed to by public employee unions; 3) Large tax and fee increases help support the enlarged spending; 4) Temporary federal stimulus aid is relied upon to sustain recurring spending commitments, creating a risk of large future budget gaps; and 5) a few positive steps were taken to reduce wasteful or poorly targeted programs.
Letter
State Budget
10 Do's and Don'ts for Spending the Federal Stimulus Funds
February 25, 2009
This letter to the Legislature warns that the federal aid to New York is limited and temporary, suggests ten do’s and don’ts for using the federal funds and closing the budget gap while avoiding harmful cuts and tax increases, and highlights possible allocation of the funds.
Blog
State Budget
What to Look for in New York State’s Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget
January 11, 2024
With Governor Kathy Hochul having delivered her State of the State address and the Legislature convened, attention in Albany now turns to the Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget—due in just a few days.
Letter
State Budget
Watchdog Groups Urge Legislators to Omit Extraordinary Budget Powers in One-House Proposals
A Letter to State Legislative Leaders
February 20, 2024
Reject proposal in Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget that gives the Governor extraordinary powers to spend and borrow unilaterally and without oversight by the Comptroller.