New ways to remedy NYC's budget mess

Could nose jobs be the fix for the city’s fiscal problems?

A tax on plastic surgery is just one of 62 ideas presented by the Independent Budget Office on Tuesday to help cure the Big Apple’s budget problems.

A mayoral spokesman said the major ideas in the annual report would need an OK from the state to become a reality.

While the city hasn’t implemented most of the IBO’s options in the past, a handful have gone through over the years, such as merging departments and creating a fee for certain property tax appeal filings.

The IBO said it doesn’t actually endorse the options, some of which could prove controversial:

Laundry: There’s no city or state sales tax on laundering, tailoring, shoe shining and similar services. The city could see $39 million in annual revenue.

Surgery: Medical procedures aren’t taxed either, and an argument can be made that cosmetic enhancements are the same as buying cosmetic products, which are taxed. Revenue could be $50 million annually.

Garbage: A “pay-as-you-throw” program would tie a garbage-collection fee to the amount of waste a household creates. Proponents say it’s an incentive for folks to create less waste. A net savings in waste exporting costs would amount to $252 million annually.

Ferry: Ending service on the Staten Island Ferry between midnight and 5 a.m. could help save $3.7 million annually. Meanwhile, requiring passengers who board the ferry as pedestrians to once again pay a fee would bring in $4.8 million a year.

Workers: As other cities and states have done, public employees here could see their workweeks reduced to four days to save money ($25.1 million in 2012), or have them contribute to health insurance premiums (a savings of $496 million in 2012 for the city).