Area school districts spend an average of $18,994 per student - far more than the national average of $10,500. There are big deferentials among local district. At the top locally is Pawling Central School District where it costs $27,374 to educate Read More
The state needs to give localities a break from mandates that tie their hands—including laws that benefit public workers—in dealing with the worst cash crunch in decades, according to speakers at a breakfast sponsored by the Empire Center for New Read More
The debate over minimum wages continues to divide the NY State legislature, with the Democrat-controlled assembly led by Speaker Sheldon Silver calling for the state rate to go up to $8.50, from the current $7.25. Republicans in the Senate and some b Read More
The Wantagh Union Free School District announced on its website Thursday, the hiring of Phil D'Angelo, current Skaneateles Central School District superintendent, as its new superintendent. The Wantagh board of education unanimously approved D'Ang Read More
Members of the Common Council said they will propose spending $2 million more than Mayor Stephanie Miner recommended in her 2012-2013 city budget because they expect sales tax revenues to exceed Miner’s estimate. Councilors today said they had n Read More
Mayor Bloomberg dropped a bombshell in the middle of his annual budget presentation yesterday by declaring that municipal workers who’ve toiled without contracts for as long as 3 1/2 years won’t get retroactive pay raises — even after he leaves Read More
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other leaders called state pension reforms passed in 2012 "transformational." Taxpayers should now ask: How much did pension reform save us, and when will we see the savings? Unfortunately, the answer is "not much and not Read More
Across New York, the cost of health benefits for retired government employees is growing so rapidly that it threatens to crowd out funding for essential government services. Rather than lay off police or close libraries, public officials may want to Read More