New York

Yes, Rockland County is in Trouble

December 9, 2011 Budget

Yesterday, after taking a quick look at the budget numbers and actions for 2012, I asked the question, is Rockland County (NY) in trouble? The answer is yes. This morning, the NYS Comptroller released the following (the emphases are mine): DiNAPOLI: POOR BUDGET PRACTICES HURTING ROCKLAND COUNTY County Has Incurred Large Debt and General Fund […]

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New York County Property Tax Increases for 2012 & Other Budget Notes, Update 1

December 7, 2011 Budget

The results are beginning to come in on New York’s county budgets for 2012. Got a long way to go, but figured to start posting rather than wait for a more complete report. Albany 8.7 percent increase ($6,572,032) to $81,971,723. This is 19.5 percent increase in three years. Set stage for pay increase for legislators […]

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Tax Cap Office Pool

December 2, 2011 Budget

Office pool open on which local government budgets will have the highest property tax increases in 2012: By category City (excluding New York City) Town County Overall $25 for the winner in each category. $50 for the overall winner. (Hey, it’s coming out of my pocket and I’m among the 99 percent.) Ties will share […]

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Unfunded Mandates?

August 2, 2011 Budget

A major complaint of counties in New York, even before the State imposed a cap (porous, but a cap) on increases in property taxes, the constant refrain was that the State mandated a host of requirements that generate costs, but which the State doesn’t pay at least part of it. However, about 40 counties operate […]

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RIP Phil Pinsky

July 25, 2011 Legislation

I want to note the passing of Philip Pinsky, an attorney from Syracuse, NY and former First Assistant Counsel to the Republican Majority in the NYS Senate. Among other issues, Phil handled health and welfare issues. Some time back, I also worked for the NYS Legislature. But I worked for the NYS Assembly’s Committee on […]

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County Spending Animated

March 22, 2011 Expenditures

Per capita expenditures animated by county (excluding the five counties of New York City). (Flash required.)NYS County Expend per Capita 1998-2009.swf. Experiment with the scales, speed and labeling.

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More on New York County Finances, and Not Just Nassau

March 21, 2011 Budget

A few days ago, we looked at debt in New York counties (excluding New York City). We found that using several debt measures such as debt per county resident, Nassau County, which is in budgetary trouble, is an outlier. But of course, there are many other things that we might look at and the most […]

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For openers … the case of Nassau County, New York

March 17, 2011 Local Government

It’s bad enough when we don’t bother gathering data to assess where we are, how we’re doing, and where we going. But to gather data and not use it is both foolish and wasteful. Not making governmental data – the public’s data – available to the public in a usable form undermines our ability to […]

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