March 27, 2009. The Omnibus Consortium (www.omnibustaxsolution.org) held a video press conference today to urge that this flawed program be replaced with a meaningful circuit breaker. Group press release >>
March 22, 2009. New York faces one of the largest budget deficits in the country for the coming year at $14.2 billion. The State's 2009-2010 fiscal year begins April 1, 2009. Two responses to addressing the crisis have dominated the policy debate. Both acknowledge the detrimental impact Wall Street revenue declines have had on the State's fiscal condition. But in other ways they diverge significantly. In the context of a deepening recession, which is the most sensible path to take? Press release (also below) Executive [...]
March 13, 2009. A presentation by James Parrott at Navigating the Fiscal Crisis: A Forum for Non-Profits, sponsored by the Bronx Forum, a partnership of the Bronx Borough President's Office, Hostos Community College, and Jewish Community Relations Council of NY/CAUSE-NY. Presentation >>
March 12, 2009. This testimony, presented by FPI executive director Frank Mauro to the New York State Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform, includes a discussion of the Omnibus Tax Reform Bill. The goal of the bill: to restore fairness to taxation with both short term relief and long term solutions.
March 4, 2009. Testimony before the NYS Assembly Standing Committee on Local Governments Public Hearing on Industrial Development Agencies, submitted by FPI executive director Frank Mauro. There is room for improvement in six areas: The usefulness of IDA hearings, Reporting on costs and benefits of IDA-supported projects, Ensuring that IDA benefits don't go to firms that break environmental, safety or other state laws, Coordination with all local governments affected by IDA decisions, Transmission and recording of PILOT payments to the local governments on whose behalf [...]