One of Carl Paladino’s prescriptions for New York’s chronic budget deficits, spending cuts of at least $7 billion in his first year as governor, may be imposed whether or not the underdog Republican candidate wins in November. The nation’s t Read More
Gov. David Paterson's early retirement incentive was designed to shrink the state payroll in efforts to save $250 million in work force costs. But in an odd twist, the plan may also mean some hefty promotions and higher salaries for a select group Read More
Just when you thought the financial news couldn’t get any worse … . It just did. Government at nearly all levels is staggering. Budgets are out of whack, the federal government has a huge and growing deficit, revenues are down, actuarial ta Read More
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has numerous employees working under him who are pocketing both a state pension and a paycheck -- a dubious practice known as double dipping that pension-reform advocates fear is bankrupting the system, the Post has lea Read More
Polls, news commentators and chatter at the local diner will tell you taxes and overspending have for years been New York's biggest problem and will be on the minds of voters choosing a governor Nov. 2. But fiscal analysts say the plans Democratic Read More
New York taxpayers spend billions of dollars a year on health insurance coverage for retired state and local government employees, many of whom are too young to be eligible for Medicare. But the mounting "pay-as-you-go" bill for retiree health car Read More
E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center for Public Policy says state workers should have defined-contribution pensions so taxpayers' costs would be predictable. But his remedy of using 401(k)-style accounts would have downsides. Management fees—now $3 Read More
California and New York, after closing budget deficits of more than $27 billion this year, may face $1.3 billion in combined new gaps if the federal capital- gains tax rate doesn’t rise as scheduled, state documents show. Both count on increased Read More