June 24, 2011.  Governor Cuomo's Fiscal Policies: How Will New York’s Economy Be Affected? Governor Cuomo won a great political victory in getting his 2011-2012 budget adopted on time and with very few changes. And it now looks like the Legislature will be enacting - again with very few changes - the very tight cap on property tax levies that the Governor spelled out during his 2010 campaign. This brief examines how the New York economy fared, compared to other states, under the more balanced fiscal policies of recent years. But dramatic cuts in spending can easily derail fragile recoveries; it remains to be seen whether the state will do as well under Governor Cuomo's direction.

March 23, 2011.  A Harder Struggle, Fewer Opportunities: The Impact of the Governor's Proposed Budget on Women, Children and Families. This report prepared for The New York Women's Foundation shows that the Executive Budget takes away from an array of vital programs that strengthen women's ability to support themselves and their families, and keep them healthy and safe. Obstacles are placed in the paths of women trying to improve their lives and those of their children. The proposed assembly and senate budgets move in the right direction by moderating some of the proposed spending reductions. The leaders should further moderate cuts while considering revenue actions to lessen the disproportionate reliance on spending cuts.

March 1, 2011.  Short Term Property Tax Relief and Long Term Tax Reform: An Omnibus Approach. Testimony of FPI's Frank Mauro at the  public hearing "Cap on Real Property Taxes" before the Assembly Standing Committees on Ways and Means, Education, Real Property Taxation, Local Government and Cities. A cap on real property taxes would not effectively protect those most in need of property tax relief, and would exacerbate inequities in our current system of public school finance. In the short run. a property tax circuit breaker provides effective and targeted relief. Over time, we should reform New York's state-local tax system by having the state gradually take responsibility for the financing of a greater share of the essential services that New York State performs through its local governments.

February 24, 2011.  Cuomo's austerity budget will kill N.Y. jobs: Why not tax the top 5% instead of slashing services? An op ed by Frank Mauro and James Parrott, New York Daily News.

February 16, 2011.  Testimony at the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2011-2012 Executive Budget Proposal - Human Services. Submitted by Carolyn Boldiston, FPI's Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst. Includes: a review of New York State's recent public assistance caseload history, a review of New York's historical utilization of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, a review of the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of February 2009 on TANF funding and spending in New York State, and recommendations for the 2011-2012 state fiscal year.

February 14, 2011. Balancing the New York State Budget 2011-2012. This presentation - by Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute and Ron Deutsch of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness - was made at a budget briefing for legislators, staff and advocates. The briefing was sponsored by Growing Together NY, Strong Economy for All Coalition, AFL-CIO, AFSCME NY, ATU, CSEA, CWA District 1, NYSUT, PEF, SEIU Local 32BJ, TWU, and UFT.

February 14, 2011.  FPI responds to the Partnership report: Can New York Depend on a "Millionaire’s Tax" to Solve the Budget Crisis? The personal income tax (PIT) surcharge should be continued. It is not onerous, and it is offset by federal tax cuts. Moreover, unemployment is projected to stay above 7 percent until 2014; budget cuts worsen unemployment and the adversity experienced by many families in a weak economy. New York needs a balanced approach to balancing the budget, one that looks also at the revenue side, rather than relying too heavily on the cutting side. (This is a revised version of a brief originally published on February 10, 2010.)

February 1, 2011.  Statement from the Fiscal Policy Institute on the proposed Executive Budget 2011-2012. The budget proposed today by the Governor places relies excessively on spending cuts, which increase unemployment and intensify hardships for those bearing the brunt of the recession. Meanwhile, a privileged group has profited tremendously from New York's economic growth over the past two decades, and from Wall Street's recent resurgence; the richest one percent of New Yorkers now receive 35 percent of all income in the state, while they pay a lower state and local tax burden than middle- and low-income state residents. Budget austerity will not put New Yorkers back to work.

January 22, 2011.  Fiscal analyst calls NY deficit exaggerated. By Michael Amon, Spin Cycle (Newsday blog).

January 3, 2011.  Fiscal Reality: Practical options for New York's budget. An op ed by James Parrott, The Clarion. A balanced approach to balancing the state budget includes identifying additional revenues - not just cutting critical services - particularly at a time when need has been elevated by the lingering recession. Government spending is inextricably tied to prospects for economic recovery. Steep cuts will worsen unemployment.