Tax & Budget

Tax Policy Brief: Revenue Impact of Higher State Taxes on Capital Gains

In this brief we evaluate three options for increasing the New York State tax rate on long-term capital gains. The options assessed here include: (1) a low surtax rate of 1% and 2%, (2) moderate surtaxes of 2% and 4%, and (3) surtaxes of 7.5% and 15%, as proposed in bill S2162/A2576 sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assembly Member Ron Kim.

2023-09-08T10:24:44-04:00February 6th, 2023|State Budget, Tax Policy|

FPI Statement on FY 2024 Executive Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2023 Media Contact: press@fiscalpolicy.org FPI Statement on FY 2024 Executive Budget   "As we head into a possible recession, it is essential to invest in the public services that stabilize the quality of life and the cost of living for working New Yorkers" ALBANY, NY | February 1, 2023 — Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Nathan Gusdorf today issued the following statement: “While Governor Hochul’s budget recognizes the importance of [...]

2023-09-08T10:47:07-04:00February 2nd, 2023|Press Releases, State Budget, Tax Policy|

Fiscal Policy Institute on State of the State

In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2023 State of the State, Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Nathan Gusdorf today issued the following statement: “In her State of the State, Governor Kathy Hochul laid out a wide-ranging agenda that identified many of the crises facing New Yorkers — but was silent on the need for new revenue. The Governor cannot deliver on an agenda to expand affordable housing and healthcare, strengthen our schools, and transition our state to a green economy without new funding. There is no credible vision to rebuild New York after Covid without new revenue."

2023-09-08T10:27:21-04:00January 10th, 2023|Press Releases, State Budget, Tax Policy|

Personal Income Tax Revenue Exceeds Projections in Mid-Year Financial Plan

In its Mid-Year Financial Plan Update, the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB) reported that tax revenues continue to exceed previous projections. Personal Income Tax (PIT) receipts continue to outperform expectations — bringing in $48.95 billion — nearly $2 billion more than projected in the enacted budget financial plan and $500 million more than projected in the first quarterly update to the financial plan. Through the first half of the fiscal year, PIT receipts exceeded enacted and first quarter projections by 17 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

2023-09-08T10:28:45-04:00November 30th, 2022|Economic Outlook, Financial Plans & Cash Reports|

Inequality in New York & Options for Progressive Tax Reform

A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) finds that New York State is home to the highest concentration of extreme wealth in the United States. New York State also has the greatest income inequality in the United States. In order to understand inequality, we need to look at both income and wealth. By both of these measures, New York is the most unequal state in the nation.

2023-09-08T10:30:11-04:00November 9th, 2022|Must Read, Tax Policy|

FPI Testifies to NYS Senate on Fines and Fees

FPI's Chief Economist, Jonas Shaende, was invited to testify before the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Codes and the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime, and Corrections. Dr. Shaende spoke in support of the proposed S.3979C (Salazar)/A.2348B (Niou), the End Predatory Court Fees Act. Testimony: Full Text

2021-10-29T14:49:28-04:00October 29th, 2021|Blog, City Budget, Testimony|

Local Governments Across New York State Must Re‐examine Fine and Fee Revenue

Many local governments across New York State ‐ particularly small town and village governments ‐ rely on fine and fee revenue as part of their annual budget, with more than 30 towns and villages having a reliance of ten percent or greater on this type of revenue. Much of it is generated through Justice Courts which have jurisdiction over vehicle and traffic violations, evictions, small claims, and certain criminal offenses. Click here to read the full report: Local Governments Across New York State Must Re‐examine [...]

2021-08-31T21:11:42-04:00August 31st, 2021|City Budget, Fact Sheets|

New York State Fines and Fees Revenue Lacks Transparency, Obscures Economic Harms

New York State relies on fine, fee, and surcharge revenue to fund government operations- including the functions of the courts and state agencies providing criminal justice, public safety, and victim services. This funding is generated via a complex set of state statutes, including penal, vehicle and traffic, environmental conservation, judiciary, and finance laws and is spent through the General Fund and a bevy of State Special Revenue Funds. No one state government entity or agency is charged with comprehensively reporting on the imposition, collection, and [...]

Fact Sheet: State and Local Government Employment Has Been Largely Static, With Full-Time Jobs Eliminated in Critical Areas

Full-time employment in state government jobs grew by only 1 percent in New York State between 2010-2019, with the number of those employed totaling just over 236,000 in 2019. At the same time, local government employment decreased by 1 percent for full-time employees, with the number of employed totaling just over 882,000 in 2019, down from 893,000 in 2010. Full-time employment losses in both state and local government affected the areas of health, natural resources, and social and public welfare. Employment losses in health and [...]

Fact Sheet: Black New York Workers Have Been Hit Hard By The Pandemic Statewide

THE COVID‐19 PANDEMIC HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED EFFECT ON THE JOBS AND INCOMES OF NEW YORK STATE RESIDENTS, in addition to upending social norms and taking the lives of thousands. However, the pandemic’s burden was not evenly distributed across our population. The Fiscal Policy Institute found that Black workers statewide, who already had a higher rate of unemployment prior to the pandemic, experienced even greater losses. Our first analysis compares the employment measures among Black New Yorkers between March to November 2019 and March to November [...]

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