Opinion in the Albany Times Union

The Times Union has provided a forum for opinion pieces from various sources: September 7, 2008. A taxing solution: A tax cap forces Mass. towns to think about spending, by Richard P. Tisei, leader of the Republican minority in the Massachusetts Senate, and Bay State's Proposition 2½ not without difficulties, by Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. July 20, 2008. A point/counterpoint pair of op eds on the proposed tax cap:  Cap pressures government, not residents, to perform, by John J. Faso, [...]

2012-04-30T22:56:44-04:00September 7th, 2008|Blog, City Budget, Tax & Budget|

State of Working New York 2008: New York’s Rising Unemployment – The Other Crisis in Albany

August 28, 2008. Job losses rise, straining state unemployment insurance. Unemployment is up by 56,000 in the first half of 2008; in 25 counties, the increase is over 20 percent. New York’s projected budget gaps have received considerable attention in Albany; the state’s growing unemployment is the other crisis to which Albany must also turn its attention. Press release Report FPI's State of Working New York series, published biennially since 1999, provides comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the data available on the conditions facing workers [...]

New York has the highest poverty rate of all northern states

August 26, 2008. FPI's look at new Census data for New York: no progress on poverty and family incomes since the 2001 recession; fewer New Yorkers are now uninsured but 2.5 million still lack health insurance. Includes figures for larger counties, cities and towns, as well as New York's standing among the 50 states. Release with data >>

Transitional Jobs: Return on Investment Study

August 25, 2008. This analysis shows that a statewide Transitional Jobs initiative in New York could clearly pay for itself in just three years in primary public cost savings if it is able to increase employment rates by more than 26% for public assistance recipients and by more than 35% for formerly incarcerated participants. The actual public cost savings would likely be even greater once the impact on child support payments and justice system costs is factored in.

Short Term Tax Relief and Long Term Tax Reform: An Omnibus Bill Approach

August 15, 2008. Tax reform options are receiving little attention during the current property tax debate as elected officials, the media, advocates and the general public look for ways to deliver more immediate property tax relief. In this presentation, FPI's Executive Director Frank Mauro makes the case for the Omnibus Property Tax Relief and Reform Act. He argues that immediate relief is best provided by a well-targeted property tax circuit-breaker; and that to ease the pressure on the local property tax base over the longer [...]

Déjà Vu All Over Again – Budget Balancing in Bad Times

August 14, 2008. Raising Revenue Needs to be Part of the Solution. Group press release >> "The lessons to be learned from New York’s fiscal policy choices during the last two recessions are clear. The balanced approach to the state’s budget that was adopted in 2003 worked much better than the deep service cuts of the early 1990s which prolonged and deepened the effects of that recession on New York State," said Frank Mauro, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute.

2012-03-17T11:32:13-04:00August 14th, 2008|Blog, State Budget, Tax & Budget, Tax Policy|

Latest IRS Data Reveal Fundamental Mismatch Between New York’s Income Distribution and Its Tax System

August 6, 2008. New data from the Internal Revenue Service bolster the case for a high-end income tax surcharge in New York. New York is one of ten states that have income distributions that particularly favor the wealthy few - while the progressivity of the state income tax has been weakened since the 1990s. With the state facing a budget deficit and political leaders seeking a way to pay for effective and immediate property tax relief, this is especially timely news. Press release with NYS [...]

Increase in federal minimum wage doesn’t affect New Yorkers, but nearly 300,000 would be helped by state legislation

July 22, 2008. Although the federal minimum wage is set to increase on July 24, New York needs state legislation to move the purchasing power of the minimum wage closer to historic levels - and to a level that can keep a family of three out of poverty. By increasing the minimum wage, New York would improve the lot of workers without disrupting the labor market. Press release, full report.

Economists’ Statement Opposing the Lazio Tax Proposal

July 18, 2008. Over 110 economists from throughout New York state say the Lazio tax cut proposals are economically and socially irresponsible, jeopardizing Social Security and Medicare. Full statement, followed by a list of the economists endorsing it. Several weeks ago, eight Nobel laureates and over 300 other economists issued a public statement opposing the large-scale tax cuts that are the centerpiece of presidential candidate George W. Bush’s economic proposals. We, the undersigned, as economists who live and/or work in New York State, believe that [...]

Siena New York Poll: Circuit Breaker & Gas Tax Cut Top Property Tax Cap

July 14, 2008. While New York voters strongly support both a property tax cap and a property tax "circuit breaker," which ensures that property taxes do not exceed a certain percentage of a homeowner's income, when forced to choose between the two, a majority prefer the circuit breaker, according to a new Siena (College) Research Institute poll a new Siena Research Institute poll released today. More voters would rather see New York eliminate 32 cents of state gas taxes than cap property tax increases. "New [...]

2012-03-06T15:15:21-05:00July 16th, 2008|Blog, City Budget, Tax & Budget|

Education policy experts weigh in on tax caps

July 14, 2008. A collection of materials from researchers and stakeholders, including the Council of School Superintendents and the PTA. It's Elementary, a monthly column by John Yinger, director of the Education Finance and Accountability Program and professor, Syracuse University's Maxwell School. See especially: Why a Property Tax Cap Is a Bad Idea for New York (June 2008) The Preliminary Report of the New York Commission on Property Tax Relief (May 2008) Reform in New York State's Education Aid Formula? (April 2008) Materials from the [...]

2012-03-06T19:57:49-05:00July 14th, 2008|Blog, City Budget, Tax & Budget|

Restoring the Purchasing Power of New York State’s Minimum Wage

July 10, 2008. A look at recent efforts to increase the minimum wage - in New York and nationally - reveals that the current minimum wage falls far short of historic levels, and cannot keep a family of three out of poverty. By increasing the minimum wage, New York would improve the lot of workers without disrupting the labor market. Report >>

Materials from TREND – Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess

June 23, 2008.  TREND NY Poll Says New Yorkers Prefer Circuit Breaker over Cap. The Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess conducted a random automated phone survey of more than 500 registered voters, and found that New Yorkers prefer a property tax circuit breaker to a property tax cap two to one. March 6, 2008. Presentations from Changing the Property Tax System in New York, a conference sponsored by TREND in Hyde Park. Property Tax Caps: What We Can Learn From Other States by Robert [...]

2012-03-06T21:58:33-05:00June 23rd, 2008|Blog, City Budget, Tax & Budget|

Working Families and Economic Security in New York: How Effectively Do Work Supports Bridge the Gaps?

June 11, 2008. Thirty percent of New Yorkers in working families can't cover basic needs with their wages. This report analyzes the effectiveness of "work support programs" (such as food stamps, Child Health Plus and the Earned Income Tax Credit) in bridging the hardship gap experienced by 5.7 million New Yorkers - that is, the gap between family wages and a basic family budget standard. Work supports make a difference, but more must be done. Press release, full report.

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