Covid-19 has had a substantial effect on the municipal workforce. We look at the effect during the peak months of the pandemic by examining the use of sick leave by uniformed staff members and civilian staff.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown brought about extraordinary economic distress for New York City and its residents. That distress is now easing thanks to an influx of federal aid to the city budget and the successful development and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.
The New York City Independent Budget Office is today adding to its compilation of roughly 100 budget options for the city—ways New York could cut spending or raise revenue. In addition to the new measures introduced today, we have revised or updated a number of initiatives included in our online Bud
NYC BY THE NUMBERS: Last year, the Mayor suspended the sanitation department’s organics collection program because of budget constraints and too many partially filled trucks. But participation varied throughout the city.
A recent court decision may allow Gowanus to be the next neighborhood rezoned under the Mayor’s initiative, but 6 other neighborhood rezoning plans—from East New York to the Bay Street corridor--are already approved and underway. We look at the status of funding for 87 local projects.
Nearly 400 public schools with grades 9-12 offer advancement placement courses. Course content is very similar across the schools, but some schools weight student grades, potentially turning a B into an A. With appendix table.
TESTIMONY: IBO’s Elizabeth Brown presented testimony to the NYC City Council on key findings from her evaluation of the IDA’s Industrial Program. See the PowerPoint slides
Report focuses on the allocation and uses of resources for various competing budget priorities, including the various options available for saving money and raising revenue, as well as the weighed/approximated costs and benefits for each option.
PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOCUS: Under the Governor’s budget plan, state aid to NYC schools would grow next year. But the outlook for school aid is complicated by an influx of federal pandemic school aid and the Governor’s proposed restructuring and reductions of school support from Albany.
As the pandemic swept the city and lead to school closures, job losses, and quarantine, food insecurity grew. New York City spending for emergency food grew too.
PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOCUS: City spending on tuition and other supports for special needs students under the rubric of Carter Cases continues to rise rapidly.
In addition to last summer’s threat of potential layoffs, the Mayor has implemented an attrition program, with agencies allowed to replace only one out of every three departing full-time employees. How far has headcount fallen and which agencies have seen the biggest staffing declines?
IBO Director Ronnie Lowenstein's testimony to the New York City Council on our latest economic forecast and review of the Mayor’s Executive Budget and financial plan.