Every year, Gothamist looks forward to the Independent Budget Office's ideas on how the city can save and make money. The IBO is a nonpartisan, publicly agency, and the report shows both the pros and cons of certain suggested measures. Here are some of the suggestions:
State Reimbursement for Inmates in City Jails Awaiting Trial Over One Year
Establish a Progressive Commuter Tax
Health Insurance Copayment by City Employees
Increase the Auto Use Tax
'On the Spot' Misdemeanor Penalties
Many of these ideas have been suggested in previous years (like
charging a fare on the Staten Island ferry and
the latte tax of 2004), but Gothamist really enjoys them because they are, as the IBO intends, thought-starters. The NY Times
notes that while the ideas can be zany, NJ actually used the IBO's 2004 suggestion of a cosmetic surgery tax. And this year's new ideas are:
Privatize the Remaining Tax-Foreclosed, City-Owned Housing
Replace Late-Night Service on the Staten Island Ferry with Buses
Renew 2003-2005 Personal Income Tax Increases, Without Recapture Provisions
Shift 10 Percent of the Children in Congregate Care to Family-Based Home Care
Eliminate the Manhattan Resident Parking Tax Abatement
Sell the Remaining City-Owned Housing Stock at Market Rates
The IBO's director says the ideas are "rarely popular" - and we have to agree, people don't like the words tax, increase, and eliminate when it comes to their city services.
UPDATE: City To Remove 14 Blocks Of Bike Lanes On Bedford Ave.
Leftover Metrocard Change Infuriates Some
Hamster Rides The 4 Train
Bouncer Beatdown at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club
2nd Avenue Subway Cooling System Will "Blight" UES
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> Establish a Progressive Commuter Tax
I'd support it; infrastructure isn't free.
Also, there are some unpatriotic upper-income "residents" who spend the work week in the city but maintain a legal residence elsewhere to avoid NYC income taxes. A commuter tax could help to end this loss of revenue.
I have to defend the late-night ferry service. It only comes once and hour and they already use the smaller, more cost-efficient boats. On top of it all, those boats are usually pretty packed. The service is obviously well-utilized whatever the hour and I think they would have to replace that one boat with an awful lot of buses.
Another way the city could save money is by no longer arresting people for nonviolent marijuana violations.
We can save a lot of dough by getting rid of the smoking inspectors.