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Articles by David Friedfel
Federal Aid-Needed, But Unlikely to Solve New York State’s and New York City’s Fiscal Problems
Download Blog Print Share December 01, 2020 Optimism about the prospects of federal aid for state and local governments has increased since the presidential election; however, New York State and City have budget gaps so wide and face risks so substantial that even with considerable additional federal aid the State and City still will have to implement significant actions to stabilize their finances in the long run. Together, State and City budget gaps total $73.3 billion over four years.
Let a Sleeping Tax Lie
Download Blog Print Share November 09, 2020 This year, New York State faces a $8 billion budget gap. Next year, the gap is expected to grow to $17 billion. Some policymakers and advocates have advocated reinstating the stock transfer tax (STT) as one way to raise more money for the State.1 In fact, New York has had a stock transfer tax for 115 years, but it has been effectively dormant for the last 40 because everyone who pays the STT receives a full refund.
What will be the long-term impact of the state budget
What will be the long-term impact of the state budget agreement? Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget projected out-year deficits of $1.2 billion, $3 billion and $3.4 billion in state fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020 (before unspecified savings associated with adherence to a 2 percent state operating spending growth cap).
Don’t bring back the stock transfer tax
Songquan Deng/Shutterstock Some policymakers have advocated reinstating the stock transfer tax that has been dormant for almost 40 years. It could drive business out of New York and won’t live up to revenue projections. New York state faces a $9 billion budget gap in the current year and projected $17 billion gap next year, based on the most recent state financial plan.
Aligning Crossed Policy Wires Can Help Achieve CLCPA Goals
Press Release Download Report Print Share Expand Table of Contents September 16, 2020 The report is co-authored by Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) took effect on January 1, 2020 with goals to reduce New York’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels while also drastically improving energy efficiency, and investing in environmental justice communities.
New York State's Hard Choices
Press Release Download Report Print Share Expand Table of Contents May 22, 2020 On April 2, 2020 New York State leaders adopted a budget that took some action to ameliorate the budget gaps driven by revenue shortfalls, but deferred the hardest decisions to May, July, and January when revenue projections will become clearer.
5 Proposals that Should be Left Out of the FY21 Enacted Budget
Download Blog Print Share March 29, 2020 New York State’s bleak fiscal outlook requires lawmakers pass a “bare bones” fiscal year 2021 budget that is focused on funding critical services and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Deferring nonessential policy issues will allow for greater focus on the fiscal task at hand and a more robust public debate of these policies’ merits at a later time.
Testimony on Education Proposals in Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2021
Print Share February 10, 2020 Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony. The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank dedicated to achieving constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government. Due to education’s vital role for New York, now and in the future, CBC has long supported achieving a sound basic education for all students as required by the State Constitution.
2020 Vision
January 09, 2020 Yesterday Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State speech laid out a broad agenda for New York for the upcoming year. The details of implementing this agenda will be presented in the soon-to-be released Fiscal Year 2021 Executive Budget, which will have to close both the fiscal year 2020 $4 billion gap and the fiscal year 2021 $7.1 billion budget gap—the largest gaps since the Governor’s first budget.
Testimony on the Distribution of the Foundation Aid Formula as it Relates to Pupil and District Needs
December 03, 2019 Submitted to the New York State Senate Joint Standing Committees on Education and on Budget and Revenues Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I am David Friedfel, Director of State Studies for the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC). CBC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, dedicated to achieving constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government.
Truth in (Financial Plan) Reporting
Blog State Budget Will New York State’s Mid-Year Financial Plan Update Appropriately Reflect and Address the Medicaid Budget Shortfall? November 05, 2019 The Fiscal Year 2020 Mid-Year Update to the New York State Financial Plan will be released soon. To ensure the financial plan adheres to sound budgeting practices, the State must recognize actual and timely payments for the Medicaid program and explain how it will address the estimated $9 billion Medicaid budget shortfall.
Overdue Bills
Expand Table of Contents October 09, 2019 New York State’s Medicaid program provides health care coverage for more than 6 million New Yorkers at a cost approaching $80 billion annually.
Green in Perspective
Print Share Expand Table of Contents July 24, 2019 Last week Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which establishes a new framework for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable electricity production, and improving energy efficiency. Maintaining a reliable, affordable, and resilient energy supply while reducing negative environmental impacts is important to the State’s future and competitiveness.
Don’t Pass the Capital Pork
June 07, 2019 Shortly after adopting the fiscal year 2020 budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders said they may approve additional capital spending before the end of the legislative session.[1] This may signal that lump-sum appropriations for local projects, also known as “pork,” will be added to the State’s capital plan.
On Time, Off-budget
May 28, 2019 When announcing the fiscal year 2020 budget agreement, New York State’s leaders again reported holding State Operating Funds (SOF) spending growth to below the 2 percent benchmark Governor Andrew Cuomo set after taking office.1 However, accounting for prepayments, reclassifications, and other spending adjustments between fiscal years reveals SOF spending is projected to grow 4.9 percent in fiscal year 2020, more than double the benchmark.
Adopted Budget Continues Unequal Access to a Sound Basic Education
May 22, 2019 According to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Foundation Aid formula, it will cost school districts in New York State approximately $62.6 billion to provide a sound basic education (SBE) to all students in school year 2020.1 In the aggregate, districts are on track to spend more than $70 billion; yet several districts still will not have enough funding to provide an SBE to their students.
2019 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
Death or Disability Benefits A255 (Cahill) Referred to Labor on 1/9/19 (A) Provides cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) of disability benefits for an employee with a permanent total disability. Minimal Notes that few workers in New York State are classified as having a total permanent disability.
NYS Revenues in a Recession
March 19, 2019 New York State revenue weakness already looms over the fiscal year 2020 budget negotiations. Thirty days after Governor Andrew Cuomo released the Executive Budget he announced that current-year personal income tax collections would be $2.6 billion lower than projected.1 This shortfall may portend worse times to come. The impact from a potential recession could be substantial, totaling between $22 billion and $44 billion below projections over three years.
No, New York shouldn't add billions in new education funding: What the state really needs to do is focus aid on districts that need it
File - In recent years, Gov. Cuomo has proposed substantial increases and the Board of Regents, teachers unions, and advocates demand increases that are even larger. (Seth Wenig / AP) As sure as the clocks spring forward for daylight savings time, every year Albany is home to the vigorous debate about how much state education aid should increase and where the money should go. In recent years, Gov.
Funding a Sound Basic Education in 2020
March 07, 2019 Educating New York’s children is one of the most important undertakings of State and local government and is enshrined in the New York State Constitution, which confers the right to a sound basic education (SBE). A serious challenge is that despite significant funding increases over the past decade, some districts still do not have the resources to provide an SBE. The vigorous debate on the amount and distribution of state education aid occurs with each annual budget cycle.
How to Address New York State's Revenue Shortfall
February 11, 2019 On February 4, less than 3 weeks after releasing the New York State Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that the State was facing a $2.3 billion shortfall in January personal income tax collections. This creates a deficit in the current year and likely will create a similar shortfall in the coming fiscal year. It is a stark reminder that the State should plan for future economic uncertainty.
Clear Picture
January 29, 2019 When Governor Andrew Cuomo released the Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2020, he again reported to have held State Operating Funds (SOF) spending growth to below the 2 percent benchmark he set after taking office.
Third Term, First Budget:
January 10, 2019 Governor Andrew Cuomo will release the Fiscal Year 2020 Executive Budget, the first budget of his third term, on January 15. The context for this budget is different from past years in two respects.
NYS Trends During the Cuomo Administration
Governor Andrew Cuomo assumed office on January 1, 2011 and has served two terms. This policy brief reviews the major demographic, economic, and fiscal trends and describes notable policy changes during his tenure. Data is presented on a statewide basis, and where available, for New York State’s 10 regions.
Reallocate Settlement Payments to Boost Rainy Day Funds
Almost two-thirds of the funds have been allocated to three areas: economic development ($2.8 billion), transportation ($2.5 billion), and operations ($2 billion). Two of these uses are particularly troubling. First, as CBC has documented, the State has a poor record on economic development spending efficacy and disclosure—yet this has not stopped State leaders from creating new programs and expanding old ones.
The State Budget Cap Has Lost Its Meaning
Keeping with Albany tradition, the state's leaders adopted the budget on the final day of last fiscal year in the wee hours of the morning with little debate and no transparency, once again proclaiming the budget complies with a 2 percent growth cap. 1 After adjusting for shifts of certain types of spending out of state operating funds or across fiscal years, the budget actually increases 4.5 percent from fiscal year 2018.
2018 Benefit Sweetener Scorecard
Impacted Benefit Bill Number and Sponsors Last Actions Description Past Service + First Year Costs (dollars in millions) Fiscal Note Death or Disability Benefits A10015 (Jenne) S7525 (Ritchie) Referred to Governmental Employees Committee on 3/7/18 (A), Referred to Finance Committee on 2/27/18 (S) Enhances in-service death benefit for State correction officers who are retirement eligible and die while in service.
School officials want an extra $1.6 billion. Cuomo offered $769 million.
New York's state budget is due in a little over a week, and questions about funding for education, health care, infrastructure and other major spending areas remain unanswered. Earlier this month, City & State's Fernanda Nunes spoke with state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia about the funding levels she would like to see for New York's schools and the governor's less generous proposal, as well as as what her department is doing to protect the rights of transgender students.
New York keeps shortchanging poor students
As state leaders enter the final stages of negotiating the fiscal year 2018-2019 budget, education aid is likely to be one of the main sticking points. If past is prologue, total education spending in the adopted budget will exceed the amount in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget. But will the adopted budget include reforms to target aid where it is needed most? The executive budget school aid proposal is $26.4 billion for the 2018-2019 school year – an increase of $769 million or 3 percent.
Governor’s Education Proposal Pierces Cap And Lacks Needed Reforms
The New York State Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Executive Budget increases school aid by $769 million, or 3 percent, to $26.4 billion, twice the increase allowed by the school aid cap adopted in fiscal year 2012. Even though the cap has been overridden by the Legislature every year since it was adopted, this is the first time Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed a budget that exceeds the school aid cap. In addition, the Governor proposes two changes to how increases in school aid are distributed.
New York needs better return on economic investments
Next week public corruption trials begin, alleging "pay-to-play" schemes related to one of the state's largest economic development projects, the construction of a factory for Tesla/Panasonic. While the trials may provide a revealing behind the scenes look at how this project came about, they should not distract from the pressing need to reform the state's approach to economic development in this legislative session.
Pre-Budget Ruminations | CBCNY
In recent years the question going into budget season was how Governor Cuomo would hold spending below his self-imposed 2 percent spending cap. But in the next fiscal year, revenue shortfalls must also be overcome. Prospective changes to federal tax law and health care are likely to hurt New York State’s bottom line. Meanwhile, the Governor and legislature are heading into an election year, making significant budget cuts especially challenging.
New York Per Pupil Education Spending is Nation’s Highest
Based on the most recent national data, New York spends more per pupil than any other state: $21,206 per pupil compared to the national average of $11,392 as of the 2014-2015 school year.[1] Spending in all New York school districts exceeds the national average, but the source of revenues varies considerably in each district.[2] Revenues generally approximate spending, with slight year-to-year variations caused by use of, or deposit into, reserves.
CBC lays out ‘2 percent’ budget manuevering
The Citizens Budget Commission is out with a critique of the Cuomo Administration’s boast that they are keeping the overall year-to-year state budget at a 2 percent growth level. They say it’s closer to 4 percent when some of the cost-shifts are accounted for.
When 2 Percent Isn't 2 Percent
Governor Andrew Cuomo describes the Enacted State Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 as continuing his record of holding State Operating Funds spending annual growth to no more than 2 percent. This appears correct because some spending has been shifted from one year to another, and other types of spending have been reclassified so they no longer count as state operations. When accounting for these adjustments, the actual growth in State Operating Funds spending for fiscal year 2018 is 3.7 percent.
State Budget Increases School Aid Without Needed Reforms | CBCNY
The Enacted State Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 authorizes $25.8 billion in school aid, an increase over last year of $1.1 billion, or 4.4 percent. Almost all of this aid ($25.2 billion) is distributed via established formulas. Foundation Aid, the largest component, grows 4.25 percent to more than $17 billion. Expense-based aid increases 4.7 percent, while other types of aid are essentially flat.
Economics of state's initiatives
Recent indictments have put a major New York state economic development initiative — the so-called Buffalo Billion — in the forefront of the media and raised questions of alleged bid-rigging. But those revelations overshadow an even bigger question: Are New York state's economic development programs worth it in the first place? It's a topic of real significance. A recent report by the Citizens Budget Commission revealed that state economic development investments now total $8.6 billion annually.
Predicting the Peak, Preparing for the Trough | CBCNY
The New York State economy continues to thrive; as of June 2016, the State is in its 82nd month of economic expansion.
The Rational Funding Plan for SUNY and CUNY Should Be Extended
In 2011 New York State adopted a five-year funding plan for the state’s public university systems that had two main provisions: a rational and predictable tuition plan and a maintenance of effort commitment from the State. The SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program authorized the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to raise tuition by up to $300 per year.
REPORT CARD: New York State Executive Budget, Fiscal Year 2016-2017
These are midterm grades for the Governor’s Executive Budget; final grades will be given at the end of the annual budget process determined by the outcome of negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders. The Executive Budget deserves an excellent grade for continued spending restraint and no tax increases. Total state-financed spending would increase less than 2 percent with agency spending held flat.
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