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Sewage Overflows Caused By Sandy
Superstorm Sandy caused 11 billion gallons of partially or untreated sewage - the equivalent of Central Park stacked 41 feet high - to leak into rivers, lakes, and waterways, according to this report by Climate Central. New York City reported six sewage spills larger than 100,000,000 gallons, and 28 larger than 1 million gallons. New York authorities estimate it will cost nearly $2 billion to repair flood damaged sewage treatment facilities. Sewage overflow is common in the city, although not on this scale, and climate change will only make things worse, the group warns: "Climate change is making sewage treatment plants more vulnerable to major failures and overflows due to rising seas, more intense coastal storms, and increasingly heavy precipitation events." (April 30, 2013)

A Better Way to Fund the MTA
This report by the Citizens Budget Commission proposes a new way to fund the M.T.A. called "25-50-25". It recommends that auto user fees cover all drivers' facilities, plus 25 percent of mass transit services. Then mass transit user fees would cover another 50 percent of the operating costs of those services. And state and local tax subsidies would cover the final 25 percent of transit operating costs plus “catch-up” capital investments needed to bring the system to a state of good repair. (October 16, 2012)

The state property tax cap
The state's new property tax cap succeeded in its first year in holding average property tax growth to 2 percent – 40 percent less than the previous ten-year average, according to this report by Gov. Cuomo's office. Out of 3,077 local governments and school districts proposing a levy in the past year, the study found that 84 percent reported a levy within the capped amount. (October 1, 2012)

Heath care savings from drop in obesity rates
If New York were to reduce its body mass index by 5 percent by 2030, it could save $40 billion in health care costs, according to this report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. But if the state continues on its current trajectory, it could have an adult obesity rate of 51 percent by that time. (September 19, 2012)

Cost of Public-Sector Retiree Health Benefits
This report by the Empire Center estimates that New York’s state and local governments combined unfunded liability for public-sector retiree health insurance comes to nearly $250 billion. (September 18, 2012)

NYC Office of Management and Budget
The Mayor's budget, the 10-year capital strategy and answers to some of your basic budget questions.
Open Book New York
This site, created by the New York state compotroller, is designed to help visitors find out how the state government spends taxpayer dollars. The site allows searches of current state contracts and of how much various state gencies spend on salaries, travel and other expenses.
NYC Independent Budget Office
Established in 1996 and charged with enhancing public understanding of the City's budget. Everything from analyses of the Mayor's budget to reports on taxes on the poor and utilities. Interactive tax receipt tells you how much you spent on each government service is highly recommended.
Governmental Research Association
Links to organizations across the nation
Good Jobs New York
Good Jobs New York, a project of the Fiscal Policy Institute is a watchdog examining "retention deals" that give companies subsidies to stay in the city. This Web site has an overview of how the city's economic development funds are controlled, and a database of the largest subsidies ever offered by the city, topped by a $940 million deal offered to the New York Stock exchange in 1998 that was never completed. The "who's applying for a subsidy this month" section is diligently updated - visitors can also sign up to receive the monthly updates via email.