Fiscal Policy Institute

Recent Work

Debunking Common Misconceptions about the Size of the State Budget

Under the fiscal year 2025 executive budget, inflation-adjusted state funding would fall for a third consecutive year. While State spending rose in response to Covid, it will return to its pre-Covid trend by fiscal year 2025.

Fiscal Analysis: 2025 Revenue To Exceed Projections by At Least $4 Billion

The DOB’s assumed growth rates for State revenue are unusually low by historical standards, and are out of sync with most forecasts of U.S. economic growth over coming years. FPI expects State revenue growth in fiscal year 2025 will likely exceed current forecasts by at least $4 billion.

One-House Budgets Wisely Raise Taxes On Wealthiest New Yorkers — But Only Temporarily

In light of New York’s affordability crisis and the need for deeper State investments to lower the cost of living, the one-house budgets wisely invest in affordable housing, healthcare, and higher education. Additionally, the legislature sensibly rejects the Governor’s proposed cuts to public schools and home care worker wages.

March 12th, 2024|Featured on Home, Press Releases|

What to Look for in the One House Budgets

The New York State Senate and Assembly will soon release their proposals for the fiscal year 2025 budget. Following last week’s revenue consensus, the legislature will be able to propose $1.3 billion more in spending than the executive budget. This additional revenue will allow the legislature to restore many of the budget cuts proposed by the executive budget, especially to school aid and home care. The legislature can, however, go beyond restoring the proposed cuts and put forward deeper investments in public services that address New York’s affordability crisis. These investments will require raising additional revenue.

Tax Policy Brief: Fiscal Stability and Progressivity in the Personal Income Tax

New York State often faces calls for higher tax revenue, whether due to concerns over revenue shortfalls or a desire to increase public spending. This brief assesses the soundness of raising revenue through the Personal Income Tax, examining the fiscal stability of such revenue, fundamental fairness considerations, and responses to common arguments against raising the state income tax.

Consensus Economic and Revenue Forecast: Finding Quarters in the Couch Cushions

Over the past five budget cycles, the upward revisions to revenue established at the Economic and Revenue Consensus meeting has ranged from 0.6 percent to 1.9 percent of annual state operating funds. While these numbers may seem small in magnitude, the dollar amounts are significant when compared to current cost saving measures proposed in the fiscal year 2025 executive budget. Annualized revenue adjustments average $972 million over the past 6 budget cycles (excluding 2020) compared to a proposed $454 million in school aid cuts and $600 million in cuts to the homecare program CDPAP in this year’s executive budget.

FPI: Mayor’s Continued Budget Cuts Are Unwarranted and Fiscally Irresponsible

"Improving tax receipts and new State aid, combined with lower asylum seeker costs and the customary use of annual reserves, are more than sufficient to balance next year’s budget" ALBANY, NY | In response to the New York City Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, Fiscal Policy Institute Director Nathan Gusdorf released the following statement: “Given the City’s improving fiscal outlook, the Mayor’s continued budget cuts are both unwarranted and fiscally irresponsible. “Improving tax receipts and new State aid, combined with lower asylum seeker costs and the customary use of annual reserves, are more than [...]

FPI: Modest Budget Lacks Deep Investments Needed to Reverse Affordability Crisis & Stem Population Loss

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2024 Media Contact: press@fiscalpolicy.org June Cash Receipts Continue to Stabilize Following April Volatility "Given recent inflation and economic growth, state spending is shrinking slightly relative to the size of the overall state economy" ALBANY, NY | In response to the New York State Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, Fiscal Policy Institute Director Nathan Gusdorf released the following statement: “After months of overly pessimistic revenue projections, the Executive Budget recognizes the State’s improving fiscal outlook, with projected tax receipts increasing and outyear budget gaps [...]

January 16th, 2024|FPI in the News, Press Releases, State Budget|

New: Expiring Tax Rates to Drive Down Expected Fiscal Year 2028 Revenue

By Andrew Perry, Senior Policy Analyst January 2024 Approximately $2.4 Billion of FY28 budget gap will be due to the Personal Income Tax and Corporate Franchise Tax surcharge expirations. In the fiscal year 2022 budget, New York enacted temporary increases to the personal income tax (PIT) and corporate franchise tax (CFT) rates. PIT rates were raised for tax filers with more than $1 million in annual income, and new brackets were created for filers with incomes over $5 million and $25 million. The CFT rate for businesses with over $5 million in annual profits [...]

State Economic Update: Economy Recovers While Inequality Rises

Despite New York’s aggregate economic strength, the state faces real economic challenges. First, the Covid-19 pandemic induced a sustained decrease in total employment in the State relative to the rest of the country — in other words, while the rest of the United States has recovered and surpassed pre-pandemic employment, New York remains over 100,000 jobs below its pre-pandemic level as of the end of 2023. Second, poverty rates, which reached a 30-year low in 2020, have been climbing since the pandemic — a sign that New York faces real challenges in meeting the needs of its population. And third, New York’s income inequality remains amongst the highest in the country.

January 15th, 2024|Economic Outlook|

FPI on State of the State: NY’s Long-term Economic Competitiveness Depends on Deepening Investments that Sustain Workforce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2024 Media Contact: press@fiscalpolicy.org June Cash Receipts Continue to Stabilize Following April Volatility New York’s current fiscal indicators are stable & show State could significantly increase public investment Current $4.3 billion FY25 budget gap falls within routine range that resolve without major policy intervention ALBANY, NY | In response to Governor Hochul's State of the State, Fiscal Policy Institute Director Nathan Gusdorf released the following statement: “While the Governor outlined an agenda that accurately highlights many of the challenges facing [...]

January 9th, 2024|Press Releases, State Budget|
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