New York’s property tax levy cap makes it more important than ever for local governments and school districts to bring their long-term spending into line with long-term revenues. But most localities don’t issue budget forecasts that look further than a year ahead —making it it easier to put off tough decisions. Read More
If Bill de Blasio becomes New York City's first Democratic mayor in 20 years, the liberal politician would soon find himself immersed in labor talks that could saddle the city with a $7 billion bill for retroactive wage increases for municipal workers... Read More
Although median household income and per capita income between Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties are similar, the pay of their elected officials is not. According to the Empire Center's 2012-13 edition of "What They Make," the center's annual report on public payrolls, the counties are ranked third, fifth and fourth respectively for western New York counties. The three come behind Erie and Niagara counties. Read More
Whatever the outcomes of Tuesday's primaries, most mayors who win a new term in cities across the state will face a similar big challenge - how to get their municipalities back on secure financial footing. The next political leaders of New York City, smaller cities upstate , and even large suburban counties like Nassau County, will all face a big test once they take office- how to solve mounting fiscal difficulties. EJ McMahon, with the Empire Center, a fiscally conservative think tank, says the recession, which began five years ago this week, has not caused the budget problems plaguing many of New York’s municipalities, but rather has worsened already existing structural weaknesses. Read More
Western New Yorkers don’t have to look far to find reasons to support an environmental upgrade plan such as the one proposed last week by State Sen. Mark J. Grisanti, R-Buffalo. Read More
Environmentalists urged the New York Assembly at a hearing Friday to approve $5 billion bonding for upgrades and repairs to water and sewage systems, flood control projects and curbing air pollution. Read More
From Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to Senate Republicans to business groups, a drumbeat for election-year tax cuts is underway. Advocates urged state lawmakers Wednesday to reduce broad-based taxes for all New Yorkers next year instead of continuing a pattern of politically targeted tax cuts. Read More
The upper crust of local-government employees tends to wear uniforms and carry badges, according to the Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative-leaning think tank that crunched public payrolls for cities, counties, towns and villages in New York. Sixteen police officers, all working downstate, dominated the list of New York’s 20 best-paid local employees in 2012-13. Two more on the list were Westchester County corrections officers. All of the top 20 earned more than $250,000 for the year, the Empire Center said... Read More