As the country slowly emerges from the recession, cash-strapped states and public employees are on a collision course. New York union leaders are closely watching events in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio - where Republican governors are seeking not j Read More
The answer depends on who you ask. Each side of this debate trots out statistics showing that public sector workers get paid more or less than others, depending on who did the survey and the methodology. Finding accurate, unbiased data is not easy. T Read More
As he watches the continuing political turmoil over Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker's push to weaken the power of unions, E.J. McMahon, head of a leading conservative think tank in New York, is hoping that the political winds will shift dramat Read More
If the world blows up, Rochester will be ready. The Flower City holds the distinction of having the most registered fallout shelters, giving 13 residents a tiny break on their property taxes, out of just 22 such exempted properties statewide. T Read More
They generate controversy whenever light shines upon them: millions of taxpayer dollars often derided as pork that legislators distribute in their districts. But as New York state enters the second year in recent memory without any funding for "me Read More
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed 2 percent property tax cap appears to face an uphill battle Tuesday following a daylong Assembly hearing on the plan. If remarks, questions and general skepticism shown by Democrats who dominate the Assembly were any i Read More
Governor Cuomo's Mandate Relief Team released its report earlier this week on how to provide mandate relief for counties and municipalities in the state. Spokesman for the state's largest workers union - The Civil Service Employees Association (CS Read More
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed cap on property taxes is justified in light of New York State’s exceptionally heavy property tax burden, according to a report released by the Empire Center for Public Policy. The report, entitled, “The Case for Read More