Caught in the Crunch: School District Financial Condition and Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-112
Author(s):  
Youngsung Kim ◽  
Lucy C. Sorensen
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
School District ◽  
High Performance ◽  
New York State ◽  
Public Organizations ◽  
Fiscal Stress ◽  
Financial Condition ◽  
District Performance ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
And Performance

The ability of public organizations under fiscal stress to achieve their goals and maintain public service delivery warrants attention. Using an eleven-year panel of school-district data from New York State, this study examines how different dimensions of financial condition affect district performance. The findings indicate that increasing debt burdens have immediate negative impacts on school-district performance. These adverse impacts may be driven by the cutback strategies that districts choose in response to declining financial conditions. These findings have practical implications for how public organizations can best cope with rising debt while maintaining high performance.

scholarly journals An ecological study of food desert prevalence and 4th grade academic achievement in New York State school districts

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth E. Frndak
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
New York ◽  
School District ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
New York State ◽  
Food Deserts ◽  
Food Desert ◽  
Achievement Scores ◽  
York State

<p><em>Background</em>. This ecological study examines the relationship between food desert prevalence and academic achievement at the school district level. <br /><em>Design and methods.</em> Sample included 232 suburban and urban school districts in New York State. Multiple open-source databases were merged to obtain: 4th grade science, English and math scores, school district demographic composition (NYS Report Card), regional socioeconomic indicators (American Community Survey), school district quality (US Common Core of Data), and food desert data (USDA Food Desert Atlas). Multiple regression models assessed the percentage of variation in achievement scores explained by food desert variables, after controlling for additional predictors.<br /><em>Results</em>. The proportion of individuals living in food deserts significantly explained 4th grade achievement scores, after accounting for additional predictors. School districts with higher proportions of individuals living in food desert regions demonstrated lower 4th grade achievement across science, English and math. <em><br />Conclusions</em>. Food deserts appear to be related to academic achievement at the school district level among urban and suburban regions. Further research is needed to better understand how food access is associated with academic achievement at the individual level.</p>

scholarly journals Leviathan or Public Steward? Evidence on Local Government Taxing Behavior from New York State

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin M Aldag ◽  
Mildred E Warner ◽  
Yunji Kim
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Fiscal Federalism ◽  
New York State ◽  
Property Tax ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Fiscal Stress ◽  
York State ◽  
Expenditure Limitations ◽  
Logistic Regressions

Abstract Fiscal federalism argues local governments compete to provide optimal tax-service bundles as responsible public stewards. In contrast, Leviathan theories argue tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) are necessary to make local governments fiscally responsible. We analyze local taxing behavior in New York State, which implemented a levy limit in 2012 that allows legislative overrides with 60 percent vote of the local governing board. Our 2017 survey of all general-purpose local governments measured fiscal stress, service responses, and local political attitudes and found 38 percent of municipalities voted to override. Logistic regressions show local governments that have more fiscal stress, weaker property tax bases, higher need, and higher employee benefit costs are more likely to override. These findings support fiscal federalism, as local governments that override are pushing back against state policy in order to respond to local needs. TELs introduce unnecessary rigidity and run counter to the precepts of fiscal federalism.

New York’s Medicare Marketplace: Examining New York’s Medicare Advantage Plan Landscape in Light of Payment Reform

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
New York State ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Medicare Advantage ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Payment Reform ◽  
Cost Structures ◽  
Sound Policy ◽  
And Performance

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided for cost savings in the Medicare program, in part to underwrite coverage expansion to Medicare beneficiaries, to finance new coverage for those not eligible for Medicare, and to strengthen Medicare’s financial outlook. One cost-saving measure, a reformulation and reduction in payments to private health insurance plans that provide Medicare benefits through the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, had a sound policy basis but was criticized, particularly by opponents of the ACA, as a measure that would lead to increased costs, reductions in benefits, and diminished plan choices to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA plans. Despite dire predictions to this effect, a review of a sample of MA plan offerings in New York State in 2012 shows that Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in such plans did not experience significant benefit reductions or increased costs. While the number of plan offerings decreased, the reduction was mostly caused by the elimination of duplicative plan choices in 2011. Although the MA plan executives we interviewed indicated that further reductions in plan reimbursement in future years—tempered by potential bonus payments for meeting quality and performance metrics—could impact plan costs and benefits, they believed plans will employ a number of strategies to remain in the market and maintain beneficiary benefits and cost structures. However, government regulators and consumer advocates will need to examine MA plan offerings in the coming years to determine the effect of plan reaction to the ACA payments on beneficiaries’ costs for coverage and access to care.

In-Service Performance of High-Performance Concrete Bridge Decks

2000 ◽  
Vol 1696 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreenivas Alampalli ◽  
Frank Owens
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
High Performance Concrete ◽  
Bridge Decks ◽  
New York State ◽  
Crack Density ◽  
Transverse Cracking ◽  
Concrete Bridge Decks ◽  
Better Than

The current statewide standard for New York State bridge decks is Class HP (high-performance) concrete. This mix was introduced in April 1996 to increase deck durability by reducing cracking and permeability. Since its introduction, more than 80 bridge decks have been built with Class HP concrete. To compare the performance of Class HP concrete with that of previously specified concrete, the decks were visually inspected. Results indicated that Class HP decks performed better than previously specified concrete in resisting both longitudinal and transverse cracking. Furthermore, of the 84 decks inspected, 49 percent exhibited no cracking at all, but of those that had cracked, 88 percent exhibited equal or less longitudinal cracking and 80 percent exhibited equal or less transverse cracking than previously specified concrete. A final result showed that average transverse crack density on Class HP decks, excluding uncracked decks, was 6.9 cm/m2. This value is comparable with crack densities for other decks (not using HP mix) that were reported in recent literature.

Developing High-Performance Concrete Mix for New York State Bridge Decks

1996 ◽  
Vol 1532 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald A. Streeter
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Performance Concrete ◽  
Bridge Decks ◽  
New York State ◽  
Concrete Mixture ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Increased Strength ◽  
Testing Field ◽  
Class F Fly Ash

The development and implementation of a more durable concrete mixture for bridge decks are described. The work began with review and evaluation of published results of research conducted by others and resulted in a new concrete mixture that has been designated Class HP for high performance. It has better handling and workability characteristics, improved resistance to chloride intrusion, and greater resistance to cracking, and it displays little or no surface scaling. Increased strength was not a primary concern in producing a high-performance concrete for bridge decks, but greater ultimate strength was nevertheless achieved. Class HP concrete is a modification of New York State's standard Class H concrete, incorporating two pozzolan substitutions for cement—20 percent Class F fly ash and 6 percent microsilica. On the basis of satisfactory laboratory testing, field trial, and field production it is being recommended for use statewide. Initial increases in cost are expected to be minimized as concrete producers and contractors become familiar with its mixing and placement. The first-cost increase will be easily offset by more than doubling service life expectancy. Further investigation is progressing to optimize performance of Class HP concrete in bridge decks and for its use in other concrete applications.

Applying Statistical Methods for Further Improvement of High-Performance Concrete for New York State Bridge Decks

1997 ◽  
Vol 1574 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bajorski ◽  
Donald A. Streeter ◽  
Robert J. Perry
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Fly Ash ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Performance Concrete ◽  
Bridge Decks ◽  
New York State ◽  
Cementitious Materials ◽  
Concrete Mixture ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
York State

A new concrete mixture designated “Class HP” for high-performance has been developed for bridge decks in New York State. A modification of the state’s standard Class H concrete, it has better handling and workability characteristics, reduced permeability, and greater resistance to cracking and displays little or no surface scaling. These improvements have potential to result in twice the previously expected concrete service life. The mixture incorporates substitutions for cement of 20 percent Class F fly ash and 6 percent microsilica. It has now been established as the required concrete mixture for all decks built by the New York State Department of Transportation. Its successful implementation has triggered further research toward an even better mixture. An experiment was designed and performed to investigate the effects on cracking and permeability of microsilica and fly ash content, as well as the effects of total weight of cementitious materials. Experimental designs allowed investigation of a broad range of possible combinations while only a limited number of mixtures were tested. Statistical analysis of experimental data is presented and some concrete mixes are recommended for further study, especially those having 10 to 25 percent fly ash, 11 to 12 percent microsilica, and 327 to 375 kg/m3 (550 to 630 lb/yd3) of cementitious materials, and also those with 20 to 35 percent fly ash, 4 to 6 percent microsilica, and 392 to 428 kg/m3 (660 to 720 lb/yd3) of cementitious materials.

scholarly journals A Performing Manufacturer Mitigates Risk by Using Performance Information Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-20
Author(s):  
Dhaval Gajjar ◽  
Isaac Kashiwagi
Keyword(s):  
School District ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Industry Structure ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Coating System ◽  
Performance Information ◽  
High Performing ◽  
And Performance

A manufacturer initially approached the researchers to identify how to use the performance information of their high-performance urethane coating system to increase quality. The research project used the construction industry structure to identify owners who understood the high risk and transactions caused by low bid practices. Intelligent owners understood that value was delivered by expert contractors using high performance products rather than warranties. However, during the economic downturn, high performing contractors reverted to the low bid practices of using warranties to win work rather than performance. To create a high-performance environment, the manufacturer again approached the researchers to mitigate the risk caused by their warranties. The research identified that risk was not mitigated by warranties, but by transparency and performance information. A structure was developed that mitigated risk caused by a change in paradigm that resulted in a "win-win" result in a test case that involved the school district. As the system was installed, the performance of contractors increased, and the sprayed urethane foam contractors became the only roofing contractors at the school district to consistently maintain their installed roofs and mitigate the risk to the client at their own cost without using the manufacturer's warranty.

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