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Headlines
Needy States Use Housing Aid Cash to Plug Budgets
Only 27 states have devoted all their funds from the banks to housing programs, according to a report by Enterprise Community Partners, a national affordable housing group. So far about 15 states have said they will use all or most of the money for other purposes.
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Headlines
Census state pension survey 2007-1010
The U.S. Census collects key data from selected state and municipal pension funds every year. State Budget Solutions consolidated the data for the 222 largest state administered defined benefit pension funds from fiscal years 2007 through 2010 to present an overview of each state's pension funds. See how your state is doing.
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Headlines
Latest studies show growing pension peril
Recent studies by the U.S. Census Bureau, GAO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the Harvard Kennedy School detail the continued deterioration and chance of failure of public pension systems within the overall local and state government fiscal crisis. Read these studies and be aware of the extent of this pressing problem.
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Headlines
Local and state governments look for creative ways to fund transportation projects
Constrained budgets and deficit reduction efforts mean federal fewer dollars for infrastructure. As such, the burden is shifting more to state and local governments, which are being forced to find creative funding solutions.
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Research
"GASB Won't Let Me" - A False Objection to Public Pension Reform
Pension reform is a separate issue from amortization. These two issues have been conflated by those invoking the GASB proviso for closed DB plans, but this has only sown confusion. This is clearly demonstrated when the reform is structured with amortization payments on total payroll. In this way, the growth in the base for amortization payments is unaffected by the reform, so there is no policy reason for changing the schedule of these payments. The funding schedule for amortization is a red herring, irrelevant to the fundamental policy decision for pension reform. Amortization pays for past debts; pension reform lays a path toward a responsible future.
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Budget timeline: Annual
Fiscal Year starts: April 1
Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 474-7516
http://www.ny.gov/governor/
Robert Megna, Budget Director
Division of Budget
State Capitol, Room 113
Albany, NY 12224
Phone (518) 473-0580
http://www.budget.state.ny.us/
2012 Legislative Calendar: Regular Session convenes January 4, meets throughout the year.
Legislative Budget Leaders:
Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr. (D), Chair Assembly Ways and Means Committee, farrelh@assembly.state.ny.us 518-455-5491
Sen. Carl Kruger (D), Chair, Senate Finance Committee, kruger@senate.state.ny.us (518) 455-2460
The current state budget can be found here.
Want a more robust, long-term look at your state's fiscal health, beyond the budget? There are two parts: Click here for the FY2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) compiled by the state government, and click here for information on the state's pension liabilities.
New York is required to pass a "balanced budget." Article 7, Section 2 of the Constitution states the governor must present a budget of all expenditures, and the revenue sources, including new taxes, to meet those expenditures. Section 54 of the State law then charges the legislature to demonstrate its changes to the proposed budget follow Article 7. Despite these provisions, budget deficits (negative net transactions) were reported on the State's Budgetary Comparison Schedules for two of the three years examined. Under New York law, deficits can be carried over from one year to the next.
The State reports three major individual governmental funds: the General Fund, the Major Special Revenue Fund, and the General Obligation Debt Service Fund. All three major funds are budgeted (The General Obligation Debt Service Fund is not budgeted in FY05, but it is also not reported as a governmental fund). Non-major Funds that are budgeted: Special Revenue 3 and "other" out of 10, Debt Service Funds 3 and "other" out of 6 (7 FY05), and 4 and other out of 12 (11 FY06, FY05). Budgetary Comparison Schedules are missing beginning and ending balances. [from the Institute for Truth in Accounting]
Find the state's bond ratings here.
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State Debt :
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HEADLINES: New York
Cuomo's plan could boost borrowing
A provision in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget amendments could greatly expand the power of state and local governments to borrow money with less independent oversight while potentially avoiding approval from voters or the Legislature, according to three state officials familiar with the proposal.
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HEADLINES: New York, California, Texas
States Continue to Use Dishonest Budget Tactics Making Shortfalls A Mystery
Many state legislatures have reconvened for the new legislative season to examine upcoming fiscal year budgets, and inevitably, budget shortfalls. Determining the size of those budget gaps, however, is especially difficult; the accounting maneuvers and budget gimmicks that states traditionally use to "balance" their budgets often serve as temporary façades of fiscal health.
- View All New York articles
Pensions :
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HEADLINES
Census state pension survey 2007-1010
The U.S. Census collects key data from selected state and municipal pension funds every year. State Budget Solutions consolidated the data for the 222 largest state administered defined benefit pension funds from fiscal years 2007 through 2010 to present an overview of each state's pension funds. See how your state is doing.
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HEADLINES
Latest studies show growing pension peril
Recent studies by the U.S. Census Bureau, GAO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the Harvard Kennedy School detail the continued deterioration and chance of failure of public pension systems within the overall local and state government fiscal crisis. Read these studies and be aware of the extent of this pressing problem.
- View All New York articles
K-12 Education :
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HEADLINES: New York
With Battles Over, State Budget Set
"Most people say, big deal, you're supposed to get it done on time, but it's actually a big deal in Albany," said Gov. Cuomo.
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HEADLINES: New York
Proposed NY budget of $133B passes major obstacles
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York Legislature are poised to pass a state budget on time for the second year in a row. Just seven spending plans were approved on time since 1975.
- View All New York articles
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Solutions: New York
The Case for a Cap
This report analyzes the tax cap proposal in light of previous efforts to limit property taxes in New York and other states. Among the findings, New York's local property tax levels are exceptionally high by national standards and have grown by more than double the inflation rate over the past decade, justifying the governor's push to limit future growth.
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Solutions: New York
49 Suggestions for Cutting Billions in State's Medicaid Costs
Personal shopping and cleaning services for the disabled would be eliminated, weak hospitals could be merged and brand-name drugs would be limited under a series of budget-cutting proposals announced by the New York State Health Department.
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Solutions: New York
Blueprint for a Better Budget
The document explains why and how New York state developed such massive budget deficits and identifies programmatic changes to begin closing the gaps, including privatization and competitive contracting, cost reductions and tax policy goals to promote economic growth.
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Census state pension survey 2007-1010
The U.S. Census collects key data from selected state and municipal pension funds every year. State Budget Solutions consolidated the data for the 222 largest state administered defined benefit pension funds from fiscal years 2007 through 2010 to present an overview of each state's pension funds. See how your state is doing.
-
Latest studies show growing pension peril
Recent studies by the U.S. Census Bureau, GAO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the Harvard Kennedy School detail the continued deterioration and chance of failure of public pension systems within the overall local and state government fiscal crisis. Read these studies and be aware of the extent of this pressing problem.
-
"GASB Won't Let Me" - A False Objection to Public Pension Reform
Pension reform is a separate issue from amortization. These two issues have been conflated by those invoking the GASB proviso for closed DB plans, but this has only sown confusion. This is clearly demonstrated when the reform is structured with amortization payments on total payroll. In this way, the growth in the base for amortization payments is unaffected by the reform, so there is no policy reason for changing the schedule of these payments. The funding schedule for amortization is a red herring, irrelevant to the fundamental policy decision for pension reform. Amortization pays for past debts; pension reform lays a path toward a responsible future.
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OPINION
Public pension 'best practices' omit 1 thing: How do we pay benefits?
Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.
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OPINION
COMMENTARY Municipal, state workers should take their pension money and run, fast
Public employees should take their pension money now and run to avoid risk of getting reduced benefits - or nothing - in the future. It's the best deal for them and for taxpayers. A growing chorus of credible voices including the Government Accountability Office, a Federal Reserve bank and now the Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government confirm state and local government finances are "spiraling out of control" and even draconian reforms only make it "more likely" that future benefits will paid in full.
- View All Pensions
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OPINION: Pensions
Public pension 'best practices' omit 1 thing: How do we pay benefits?
Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.
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OPINION: Pensions
COMMENTARY Municipal, state workers should take their pension money and run, fast
Public employees should take their pension money now and run to avoid risk of getting reduced benefits - or nothing - in the future. It's the best deal for them and for taxpayers. A growing chorus of credible voices including the Government Accountability Office, a Federal Reserve bank and now the Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government confirm state and local government finances are "spiraling out of control" and even draconian reforms only make it "more likely" that future benefits will paid in full.
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BLOG: Pensions
COMMENTARY: This plan could save municipal, state workers' pension checks
Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.
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BLOG: Pensions, Federal Government Impact
COMMENTARY: Fed screams softly in warning about public pension crisis
This is what it sounds like when the Federal Reserve Bank screams: "Much has been written about the various headwinds restraining economic activity over the near term. However, our economy also has other headwinds to confront over the medium- to-longer-term. ... the finances of some state and local governments are also under stress and in need of serious adjustments." - Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Sandra Pianalto
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BLOG: Budget Gimmicks, Budget Processes and Systems, Measures to Balance Budgets
The Skinny on Taxes: the "Skin" tax
- View All Blog & Opinions
