If New York state doesn’t cut its budget, it will be the end of us
Re Jan. 23 article, “Budget addresses deficit — Spitzer says $124.3B plan makes ‘tough choices’ ”: Same old blah, blah, blah. With New York facing a multibillion-dollar deficit, Gov. Spitzer’s State of the State address arrogantly states that there will be no cuts in the state government bureaucracy. He’s actually going to make it bigger! We have the largest state government in the country, and the most expensive. We have more state employees than any other state, where their wages, salaries and benefits far outpace the private sector. With many families on the verge of fi - nancial collapse under the crushing weight of high taxes, the liberal socialist elitist politicians continue to thumb their noses at the taxpayer. It’s difficult to vote them out because of the large special-interest groups they cater to get re-elected. Conservative taxpaying New Yorkers are become a minority. Unless we change the way state government operates, it will gluttonously implode and take us with it. For whom the bell tolls? It tolls for us. GEORGE LYMAN Halfmoon
CAPITOL County officials criticize Spitzer budget proposal BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press
County executives blasted Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposed budget on Tuesday, saying it would actually force higher local property taxes by shifting $80 million of state costs to counties. But Spitzer shot back that his budget adds $500 million in funding to counties. A Spitzer aide said that should be enough for county executives to protect their already overtaxed residents. “County executives who are threatening to raise taxes will be doing so because of their own choices, not because of the New York state budget,” said Spitzer spokesman Errol Cockfield. “They are threatening tax increases at a time when the public is feeling squeezed, despite increased state aid that makes doing so unnecessary … So it strains belief for any county executive to say that they might be forced to raise taxes because of this budget.” The county officials at the New York State Association of Counties annual meeting, however, said Spitzer’s budget will transfer the full cost of jailing juvenile delinquents and some social service spending. Republican Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino said that if Spitzer’s $124 billion budget is enacted without change, her county’s taxpayers would face an 8.5 percent property tax increase. “We have nowhere else to go but property taxes,” said Jimino, a close ally of state Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno. “It’s a net loss for us,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat. Levy also said there were some positive aspects to the budget, including Spitzer’s effort to reduce the number of small taxing jurisdictions. Albany County Executive Michael Breslin, a Democrat and ally of Spitzer, says the counties’ concerns span political divisions and include large and small counties. Breslin said his review of Spitzer’s budget shows the county would lose a couple of million dollars in state aid. “The governor is trying to do a lot of good things,” Breslin added. “We’re early in the process and the governor is listening and I hope he hears us.” Spitzer’s proposal to the Legislature seeks to hold spending to about 5 percent to reflect a declining economy and reduced growth in revenues while closing a $4.4 billion deficit. On Tuesday, Spitzer told reporters annual state spending should grow by no more than 5.3 percent, including in the 2008-09 budget he is proposing now. That opened what appeared to be an allowance for some added spending by the Legislature. The governor and the counties appear to be counting differently. Spitzer includes continuing measures that avoid or cut costs for the counties in his calculation. County officials said those measures shouldn’t be used to distract from the reduced aid, some of which is less than anticipated in their current budgets. The Legislature must approve the budget, which is due by the start of the new fiscal year on April 1. “It’s not easy to thread the needle,” Spitzer told the county executives. “We have to build for our economic future,” he said, referring to proposed increases in education, higher education and health care spending, although at lower levels than expected. “But simultaneously we have to control the cost of government.” Spitzer gained some support for his proposed cap on local property taxes. The executives, however, wouldn’t be subject to the cap. Any cap, which could begin in 2009, would be aimed mostly at school districts. The county executives quickly drew the support of the Senate’s Republican majority. “When [Spitzer] withdraws from you, where is it going to land? On the property tax,” Bruno told the county officials. “We’re going to deal with that in the budget.” Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver emphasized that Spitzer wants to negotiate with the Legislature on his budget. Silver also said he expects pork-barrel spending, which lawmakers prefer to call “member items,” will be added to the budget this legislative election year. The spending is directed by lawmakers to programs, projects and groups back in their home districts. Silver notes many of the grants are for widely supported health, education and social service goals. Critics say they are used by lawmakers to attract votes and campaign contributions. Spitzer didn’t include the spending in his proposal, but adding it could add $170 million or more to the budget. Member items had been $200 million a year, but Spitzer dropped the governor’s piece — $30 million — in the current budget. The spending often ends up in budgets late in closed-door negotiations. “I think we can always afford member items,” Silver said. Silver also said Spitzer told him he’s “not adverse” to a long proposed raise for lawmakers, which has been part of negotiations involving several issues since last year. Democratic Senate leader Malcolm Smith, a Queens Democrat, said his conference is looking for “efficiencies” to cut spending in the budget. “I think we’re spending much too much,” he said.
County executives blasted Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposed budget on Tuesday, saying it would actually force higher local property taxes by shifting $80 million of state costs to counties.
Well if the Counties would cut some spending, taxes would not have to be raised. Lay off some of those state, city and county workers. I'm sure there are plenty of high paying appointed, newly created positions just like Kosiur's that can be eliminated. Cut back on some of these lifetime benefits. Force the retired state workers to pay income tax on their pensions. The list could go on. Cause THAT is where the problem lies. Oh, and along with school taxes as well, but that is another subject.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Fees in Spitzer budget are little more than taxes in disguise
Re Jan. 23 article, “Budget addresses deficit”: $473 — that’s what the average family will have to pay in new taxes and fees under the $124 billion budget proposed by Gov. Spitzer. In his State of the State address, the governor promised “no tax increase,” yet his budget includes tax hikes for gasoline, health insurance and groceries — among other increases. I don’t care whether he calls it a fee — a tax is a tax is a tax. In light of the worsening national economy, rising prices and the challenging job climate in upstate New York, the last thing we need is more taxes. It’s time our state lives within its means — just as the average family must do. We need to reduce state spending and substantially cut taxes on homeowners and businesses — not increase them. If our state’s chief executive is sincere in revitalizing upstate, then he should rethink his commitment to these tax hikes. He pulled the plug on his driver’s license plan for illegal aliens; hopefully, the governor will deep-six the most harmful parts of his spending plan. DALE KELLEY Clifton Park
Reservations expressed on state tax cap proposal Monday, February 25, 2008 By Bob Conner (Contact) Gazette Reporter
CAPITOL — Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressed multiple reservations Monday about a proposed cap on school property taxes. Silver, D-Manhattan, told the state conference of mayors that Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposed state budget is a good start, but the Assembly majority has concerns about it. “High among those concerns,” he said, “is the governor’s proposal for a property tax cap.” Silver said he is worried about the cap limiting revenues needed for important goals such as universal pre-kindergarten programs and reducing class size, and making good on the state’s commitment to fund the settlement of a long-running lawsuit mandating increases in funding for New York City schools. Silver also expressed concerns about caps limiting revenue for other worthy government programs helping the poor, sick and elderly, and wondered how the state would cover its increased costs if a commission appointed by Spitzer to study the issue just proposes shifting costs to the state. Asked later if his speech means he is opposed to a tax cap, Silver said he is not. John Reid, executive director of Spitzer’s Commission on Property Tax Relief, told the mayors that 15 other states have one or another form of tax cap, and his commission is closely studying five of them, with particular emphasis on Massachusetts.
The decision about the enactment of a property tax cap should not be left to our elected representatives, but should be put to a public resolution on the ballot on election day. The will of the people should trump that of the career politicians who live off the government system.
Brad, I totally agree with you. many of the issues that our legislatures passes, like voting themselves raises, tax caps, and some of the large dollar amount pork items should be approved by the people who are going to be paying for them.
Our government is set up as a government by representation. We elect the people that we think will do the best job representing us. And if they don't...ya vote'm out!!
Our government is a reflection of it's people...plain and simple! So is it the government that is failing the people of is it 'we the people' who are failing?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Valid point Bumble. Though I do believe that some representatives who we elect sacrifice their principles and turn their backs on their constituencies. You are correct that we can vote them out. However, most people don't follow the workings of their government enough to even remember the names of those who represent them.
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