exemplifies the federal stimulus bill at its worst. It's basically a helicopter drop of cash justified on the grounds that, after all, these folks need the money and will spend it--which, when you come right down to it, is justification enough for Read More
My in today's New York Post is about the fiscal folly (economics aside) of trying to balance the state budget with higher taxes on a relatively small number of affluent New Yorkers whose incomes and portfolios have dropped sharply in the re Read More
The first quarter update to New York State's 2009-10 financial plan will be released by the Governor's sometime this week. The plan is expected to reflect the potential for a significant deficit this year, and worsening budget shortfalls in the Read More
From of New York City's 2010 Financial Plan, a chart of actual spending growth from 2001 through 2008, and projected growth through 2013. Read More
Gov. Paterson has a that would have weakened oversight power of the Buffalo Fiscal Stabilization Authority. As the Buffalo News , this was the second legislative attempt in the past year to remove the city from "hard" control status, w Read More
Under , "university employees are facing unpaid furloughs." They would join California's 230,000-plus state workers who will continue to be forced to take off three unpaid days per month through June 2010. The furloughs equate to roug Read More
Today's from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says first quarter tax collections were $487 million below projections, in line with the trend reflected in Taxation and Finance data . DiNapoli's chose to focus on the bright side, noting that gene Read More
Don't look now, but there's a nasty pool of red ink spreading beneath the state's budget. If are any indication of things to come, Governor Paterson and the state Legislature need to start cutting right away. Read More