The multi-year tables in New York State’s just-released Enacted Budget Financial Plan for fiscal 2015 make continued use of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new fiscal conjuring device: a lump-sum, below-the-line reduction in future projected spending, based on the assumption that the governor will “propose, and negotiate with the Legislature to enact budgets that hold State Operating Funds spending growth to 2 percent.” Read More
The state Court of Appeals sided with the Empire Center for Public Policy and held that the names of state and local government retirees receiving pensions are subject to public disclosure. Read More
The state Court of Appeals today ruled, 6-0, in favor of the Empire Center’s challenge of lower court decisions that allowed the New York State and New York City Teachers Retirement Systems (NYSTRS and NYCTRS, respectively) to keep secret the names of retired employees receiving pensions. See the full opinion by Judge Robert Smith here. Read More
Delays, accidents, and other expenses caused by deficient, congested or unsafe roads and bridges cost New York drivers an added $20 billion a year, according to a recent study. The need for infrastructure investment is obvious– but even in an era of tight budgets, federal data indicate the Empire State is failing to get maximum value from its highway and bridge dollars. How do we compare to other states? Could we get more for less? Read More
New York’s newly enacted state budget includes what looks like the biggest, juiciest capital pork pie Albany has cooked up since before the Great Recession. The State and Municipal Facilities Program first popped out of the budget oven last year in the form of a $385 million appropriation, of which $26.65 million was spent. Read More
Last week, at a Manhattan news conference that was also “live-streamed” on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s website, the chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the president of Local 100 of the Transit Workers Union signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) reflecting a tentative contract deal that will shape the MTA’s labor compensation costs for years to come. Read More
Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, has been named by Governor Cuomo to a commission “charged with advising the State on how to best invest the Governor’s proposed $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act in order to enhance teaching and learning through technology,” as announced by the governor’s office today.* Read More
Job growth in the Empire State trailed the nation once again in March. New York’s 12-month increase in payroll jobs was 1.5 percent, compared to a 2 percent growth rate throughout the U.S, according to the state Department of Labor (DoL). Read More