Playing -- and Talking -- Budgets
February 9th, 2009
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has offered his plan to plug a $4 billion hole in the city budget. but it has lots of New Yorkers angry with its teacher cuts, fewer police and taxes on clothing, haircuts and plastic bags. So what would you do?
BALANCE, Gotham Gazette’s latest policy game lets you try your hand at balancing the city budget. Using the mayor’s proposal as a starting point, you can increase or decrease spending, department by department, and adopt or reject a slew of revenue options. To play, go here
For another perspective on the budget, one of the top experts, Ronnie Lowenstein, director of the Independent Budget Office, will be on-line at Gotham Gazette tomorrow. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, Lowenstein will take your queries on what is included and not included in the budget, how its proposals could affect you and what options the city has.
There are several ways you can participate:
* Send us questions now by going to the Wonkster.
* Send your questions now or later using twitter. We’re “gothamgazette” on Twitter or just use the “#gothgaz” tag.
* Sit tight and join us tomorrow at 2 p.m. on Gotham Gazette
For more on the city budget, read An Election Year Budget. Can the mayor cut services and raise taxes in a year when he and most other city officials must face the voters?
And for a perspective on the state budget — which is in even worse shape than the city’s — see How to Balance the State Budget by Frank Mauro and James Parrott of the Fiscal Policy Institue.
By Gail Robinson on February 9, 2009, 2:54 pmIn category: Economy, Gotham City, Public Finance | No Comments »

