If the Republican leaders of the newly reconstituted state Senate majority really intend to press for property tax relief before the end of session, they should start by reviving the school property tax cap. But they should ignore the latest version of the tax cap sent up to the Legislature by Governor David Paterson. The governor's new program bill includes a gigantic carve-out for teacher retirement costs, which over the next few years will be skyrocketing. Read More
Has the Paterson Administration just deprived itself of crucial leverage over the largest state employee unions during two challenging fiscal years ahead? It sure sounds that way, if the unions themselves are to be believed. Read More
, in addition to an average 10 percent reduction already experienced by employees under an unpaid furlough program. Meanwhile, in New York, most state workers just received a 3 percent wage increase, and . At least 42 state lawmakers, in Read More
Following in the footsteps of the owners of a small Buffalo area company have announced that New York State's income tax hike is prompting them to move to Florida -- except, unlike Golisano, they are also taking their entire company with them. Read More
New York State's Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund (DHBTF) was created in 1992 to provide a sustainable source of financing for ongoing transportation maintenance needs. But since the mid-1990s, an increasing share of the fund's revenues--pri Read More
The fall in New York State tax revenues over the past year has been concentrated among wealthy taxpayers, indicates. Read More
Should New York State voters be asked to approve a $5 billion "Clean Water, Clean Air & Green Jobs Bond Act" this year? That question will be the focus of a public hearing the state Assembly will hold on May 27 in Albany. Read More
Well, what do you know? Barely a month after its enactment, New York State's biggest income tax hike since 1961 has already driven away one of the Empire State's wealthiest and most productive residents. Make that former Read More