Some materials from this collection are available online.
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Abstract:
- The Citizens Budget Commission contain information on the financial outlook of New York City from the 1930's to the 1990's.
- Extent:
- 12.92 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Citizens Budget Commission Records, 1931-1999. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as [shortened name]).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The records of the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) contain information on the financial outlook of New York City from the 1930s to the 1990s. The majority of information in the records contains research, statistics, updates, suggestions, and summaries of New York City's financial standing.
Administrative information is available in the form of minutes, photographs, and personal information about members of the board of trustees. The meeting minutes of the CBC for the board of trustees and its members end in 1973. Publications date from 1931-1999. The bulk of the records are from the reports and releases series. Some of the releases correlate to the reports with exact dates for each series capable of being found and compared through the chronological order they were filed in.
Related Collections in the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives can be found in the subject guides for Social Activists and Public Advocates and Public Servants and Politicians.
- Biographical / Historical:
The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government.[Citizens Budget Commission: About the Citizens Budget Commission, http://www.cbcny.org/about.html Accessed July 18, 2006] The inspiration for the group was New York City's inability to manage its budget. The CBC took on the responsibility of analyzing and evaluating New York City's finances. This information was used to create recommendations and reports designed to help New York City. This responsibility was expanded from New York City to state government in 1984. The CBC believes that the interests of the citizenry of New York is of foremost importance and should guide their actions and responses.[ "A Profile of the Citizens Budget Commission," Series 6, Box 1, Folder 21, 1995.]
The CBC was founded in 1932 during the Great Depression when Jimmy Walker was mayor of New York City. When Fiorello LaGuardia became mayor in 1934, New York City, like the rest of the nation, was in a poor financial position. LaGuardia worked to resolve New York City's financial problems. The CBC offered criticism and advice throughout this period, which is documented in the news clippings in the collection. The CBC conducted research and released reports meant to be unbiased based on the needs of the people and intended to be what was best for New York City. Out of this time of financial struggle grew the Citizens Budget Commission. Another financial crisis in New York City's history occurred in the mid-1970s. A combination of generous welfare spending in the 1960s and a stock market decline in the 1970s put New York City in financial peril. One example of advice the CBC gave New York City during this time was to urge the city to provide only essential services and even at that level to do it economically.["Citizens Budget Commission Urges City Provide Only Essential Services, Phase Out 'Pernicious' Practice of Borrowing for Recurring Expenses," Series 7, Box 6, Folder 1, April 14, 1975.]
For over seventy years the CBC has acted as the financial voice of reason for New York City and more recently for all of New York State. CBC's changing responsibility to include all of New York State is explained in their 1984 annual report. The CBC became concerned when state government violated rules of state and local finance in their budget practices.[ "Annual Report: 1984," Series 3, Box 1, Folder 16.] The most recent annual report in the records from 1992 reports on a committee the CBC created to research the connection between the City of New York and the rest of the state on fiscal responsibility. Some of the results revealed that New York City is the source of about one-third of the entire state's revenues while 20% of New York City's revenues are received through state aid. This committee was designed to help solve the "finger pointing" dilemma that statistics such as these caused between New York City and New York State.["60th Anniversary Report: 1932-1992," Series 3, Box 1, Folder 17.]
Today the CBC is led by a president who oversees a research and administrative staff. The board of trustees are under the guidance of a ruling chair. The CBC's current function is nearly identical to its purpose in 1932 when it was first created-convincing New York to act wisely with its money.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department Special Collections and Archives, by the Citizens Budget Commission in August 2005.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2006 by Orson Kingsley.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Social Activists and Public Advocates
Public Servants
Business and Industry
New York (State). Budget, Division of the
Citizens Budget Commission (New York, N.Y.)
Financial planners
Annual reports
Newspaper clippings
Administrative records
Reports
Minutes
Releases (discharges)
Financial Records
Photographs - Names:
- Citizens Budget Commission (New York, N.Y.)
- Places:
- New York (State)
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Citizens Budget Commission Records, 1931-1999. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as [shortened name]).