Results tagged “statebudget”

Perhaps nostalgic for the license plates of yore as well as being desperate for revenue, NY State rolled out a new license plate redesign that will be required for pretty much all vehicles, new and old, starting next year. The "Empire Gold" license plate, in gold with dark blue lettering, will replace the current white plate with the Niagara falls and city skyline elements and the cost will be another $25 for registration renewals and new registrations. Plus, if you want to your current letter and number license combination, that'll be another $20!

While addressing the special session of the State Legislature, Governor David Paterson made it clear that the state's budget problems were real—and that the lawmakers had to deal with it. Paterson, who has proposed $3 billion in cuts to, mostly, education and Medicaid, said, "I will mortgage my political career on this plan. We stand on the brink of a financial challenge of unprecedented magnitude in the history of this state. This is a historic moment. We’re going to have to make historic decisions." He also added, "Unless immediate action is taken, we are going to have challenges to our state financials and cash flow in 4½ weeks. Frankly, we're running out of money. Right now we stand on the brink of a financial challenge of unprecedented magnitude in the history of the state. That's not opinion, that's not exaggeration -- that's fact."

Gov. Paterson has called for the Legislature to return to Albany on Nov. 10 to deal with the state's woeful budget situation. And he means business, saying yesterday, "They'll come back and we'll stay there until we get it done." When the Daily News asked Paterson's spokeswoman if he'd resort to calling weekend and holiday sessions a la during the coup, she said: "The governor expects the Legislature to return to Albany for a special session to address the current year deficit." No word on whether or not he set the Nov. 10 date in case of a game 7.

Today, Governor David Paterson will present his plan for about $2.5 billion in budget cuts. When asked about it, Paterson previously only said, "Pain," but he also told the Daily News, "It's going to be pretty grim. It's going to be fair. It's going to be across the board. It's going to be hard to endure, but the consequences [of doing nothing] are harder."

Governor Paterson continues to swing wildly at any and all challengers who might want a shot at his governorship, whether they are actually coming for him or not. And apparently now he's also paranoid that Richard Ravitch might want his job. After chatter that he'll resign, Paterson is reportedly worried that such speculation is going to the head of Richard Ravitch, the man whom he handpicked and fought for in court to be lieutenant governor. An "insider" told the Post's Fred Dicker, "I think Paterson thinks that Ravitch can't wait for him to go so he can take over and become governor."

Our new lieutenant governor does not know what Twitter is and has a playful sense of swearing. Richard Ravitch wasted no time in spinning out the "I don't give a shit" charm that makes him so appealing to many New Yorkers, telling reporters, "I know that my golf game is going to go to hell in a basket."

California has been dealing with a $24 billion budget deficit, which took its state government a while to pass. Newsweek says California's problem "resulted from overspending, foreclosures, contradicting ballot initiatives, and a two thirds majority needed to pass a budget" and offers some hints about the "Next Money Pit" states... and one of those is New York: "The state's revenues were hit hard by Wall Street's financial collapse, leading to a $20.1 billion deficit. It's a heavy spender on social services, too. With state senators busy turning off the lights and locking the Senate chamber doors, is there much confidence that the legislature is equipped to handle future crises?" Anyway, we'll know we're in bad shape when Governor Paterson does a video where he jokes about budget cuts while holding a HUGE KNIFE (yes, the Governator did just that).

With the state budget going through as dire times as it's seen over the last year, lawmakers can't expect to toss nearly $500,000 for renovations to their own restrooms and not have it raise a few eyebrows. Renovations of third-floor bathrooms in the Captiol building began last June in order to deal with asbestos removal and bring them up to the standards of the Americans With Disabliities Act. But it's reported that the $463,000 spent also included features such as marble stall partitions and arches in the ceiling. An Office of General Services spokesman said, "The ladies' room had two sets of stairs and the men's room was difficult to navigate in. The lighting was inefficient and plumbing wasted water.'' The AP says that the ADA accommodations left "men grumbling around the building after learning that the renovations reduced the number of stalls and urinals."

The big $131 billion NY State budget may have finally passed, but its contents are still... unclear. The Post (naturally) offers criticism from the Republican minority: Senator Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) says, "They haven't broken down where all the stimulus money is going. How do you vote on a budget that's not broken down and has only whole numbers? We asked for a breakdown and they told us [Friday] a list was forthcoming."

The massive $131 billion NY State budget was finally passed yesterday. While the Assembly—with its big Democratic majority— passed it before the deadline on Tuesday night, before the Wednesday deadline, the Daily News reports, "Frustrated Senate Republicans, angry at being shut out of the process, debated most bills for hours," which extended the process (the Senate Democrats have a 32-30 majority). According to the NY Times, the Republican lawmakers called the budget "disastrous,” “sheer lunacy” and “laden with pork and patronage," and even Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith admitted the secretive process was problematic, "We have to do better." In spite of Governor Paterson's earlier promises to cut spending, this budget is 9% higher (including federal stimulus money); Paterson was positive, "If the legislature can maintain this type of discipline over the next few years, then we can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel," but in the Wall Street Journal, E.J. Mahon says that light is "probably an oncoming train." Well, at least Rush Limbaugh is moving, right?

The State Senate's debate over the $132 billion state budget was first delayed by the GOP's unhappiness with how the Democratic majority handled issues (and all the taxes). Then the sickness of State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D-Westchester, Bronx) delayed things again yesterday, because she was taken to the hospital, following her Tuesday diagnosis of . Her vote is necessary, because the State Constitution requires 32 Senate votes to pass bills and the Democrats only have a 32-30 majority. This morning, PolitickerNY reports Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Minority Leader Dean Skelos agreed to let her vote yes on the remaining eight budget bills—and then go home to rest. Skelos told Hassell-Thompson, "We ask God to give you a speedy recovery, because in the Senate we are one family," while Smith said, "This is a day where, obviously our chamber distinguished itself. We are all colleagues, notwithstanding our political disagreements." Um, how about the family of colleagues work on that MTA plan.

Now that Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Sheldon Speaker emerged from their super-secret talks with a $132 billion budget, it's time to get the damn thing passed! Here's how the Times Union explains it: "With Gov. David Paterson's endorsement, the Legislature today intends to begin passing budget bills that will increase taxes by $5.2 billion, rely heavily on short-term and one-time revenues and require potentially deep cuts or more taxes if the economy continues its downward spin, as the governor projects."

All signs point to the new NY State budget including new tax brackets for earners making more than $300,000. According to the Daily News, whose website offers a Robin Hood-ed Governor Paterson, "Assembly Democrats are pushing a three-tier plan that would raise the top rate - 6.85% - on people earning more than $300,000 a year."

Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano does not want a state budget full of taxes and spending, so he threw down the gauntlet to state lawmakers, offering to bankroll them if they vote against it. Golisano said, "Legislators that we think act responsibly, or act independently of the speakers and the special interests, Responsible New York is here to support you. Because quite frankly, you don't have much support from these special interests and we're here to help." (Responsible New York is his political reform organization.)

The Associated Press reports that Governor David Paterson is "ordering 8,900 state workers be laid off after unions refused concessions amid a staggering economic downturn." Apparently Paterson had wanted the unions to forget about raises they received during the last round of negotiations and "also agree to the creation of a fifth tier in the state pension fund," according to the Daily Politics. State budget director Laura Anglin told the AP the governor "is calling for the first state layoffs since the late 1990s after unions refused to even provide counter proposals"; she also said that unions were told and may come back to the negotiating table before the state sets the budget. If not, then layoffs could start in July 1.

According to the NY Times, the NY State Senate Democratic leaders "will seek income tax increases on at least some affluent New Yorkers and a sales tax increase of a quarter of 1 percent to help balance the state budget." An anonymous Senate official said, "The hole is too deep to dig ourselves out by cuts alone. The debate now is over where to start." The Times previously reported some of their proposed tax hikes, which would create three new tax brackets: $250,000-499,999; $500,000-999,999; and $1 million and over; there is also a separate proposal to raise taxes for households making $500,000 and more. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver supports taxing upper income levels. Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, Silver and Governor Paterson will supposedly meet in private to hash out the new state budget.

The last we checked, Mayor Bloomberg was the only major politician in New York who is running for reelection in a little over nine months from now. But you don't have to be a weatherman to know that the wind has really been blowing in the direction of Albany lately, with local media painting the picture that it's Governor Paterson who's the one in trouble when it comes to reelection—despite the fact that there are more months between now and the 2010 race than Paterson has even been in office for.

After the Post reported that Governor David Paterson was headed to Davos, Switzerland for a junket (a junket called the World Economic Forum) in the wake of his Senate appointment thingy, criticism mounted from not just the GOP but also good government groups. NYPIRG's Blair Horner told the Post today, "If New York state is in a crisis, he should be convening leaders' meetings every day, not flying around the world." So now Paterson has cancelled the trip, telling reporters, "I think I'll stay here." He says he was trying to drum up interest in NY business, but now "Because of this deficit reduction and the desire to get it moving as soon as possible, when I heard the question and thought it over I thought, perhaps it would be a better idea to go another time, and send a couple of assistants and stay with the legislature to work on the budget."

Quinnipiac University released a new poll today with NY State voters' thoughts on Governor Paterson's recently announced tax proposals to close the billion-dollar deficit. Respondents were opposed to the tax on non-diet sodas, 60% to 37% (even diet soda drinkers opposed it, 58% to 39%). While voters "would rather cut services than raise taxes" 53% to 36%, they do support a tax for people making more than $1 million/year 84% to 13% (Paterson hasn't proposed it, but might turn to it). Overall, though 88% of voters believe that the state has a budget crisis, only 46% approve of how Paterson is handling it. But 53% approve of the job he's doing (to 29% who don't) and 54% (vs. 33%) believe he has the leadership skills to deal with the budget.

The special legislative session called upon by Governor Paterson yesterday fell on its face with no action being taken to address the already sizable and quickly growing state budget deficit. The ninety-minute session open to the public amounted to what some called nothing more than "political theater" and even "an exercise in mockery."

Governor Paterson unveiled his proposed $5.2 billion in cuts (or savings, depending on how you see things) yesterday to close the deficit. He said, “This is the worst economic crisis in this country since the Great Depression. That’s not an alarming statement, as it may have been when I said it in July. It’s now real.”

After Governor Paterson made it clear he may cut billions from Medicaid and schools, the critics came out. Teachers union head Randi Weingarten tells the Post, "Core public services such as education and programs for the most vulnerable in our society must be maintained," and the Greater New York Health Association's Kenneth Raske says to the Times, "We will fight in an animated and energetic way if somehow health care is being targeted, because lives are at stake here." Well, Paterson will unveil $2 billion in cuts tomorrow morning; his office released a statement saying, "This proposal, as well as our executive budget in December, will include reductions across virtually every area of state spending. Given the magnitude of this crisis, the only way we are going to be able to get New York's fiscal house in order is through shared sacrifice."

The state's fiscal crisis is so dire that Governor Paterson confirmed he "would almost certainly seek billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, as well as midyear reductions in school aid," according to the NY Times. Paterson said, "There’ll be protests, and because of the drastic nature of the cuts, those who protest will have very valid points, for which I don’t have any answer, other than ‘What’s your idea?’ We’re not going to close a $12.5 billion deficit with 5 percent cuts to health and education.” Unions (and the Republicans) are likely to fight the cuts, but Paterson said he was ready to take drastic measures, "I don’t need a protest for it to bother me; I used to fight for some of these causes... I'll feel pain in my stomach but my conscience will be clear."

Governor David Paterson yesterday continued to deal with what has been the defining issue of his administration thus far, making tough budget cuts in the face of a growing state deficit. The governor vetoed 49 pieces of legislation yesterday, including a bill that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on cuts to the medical benefits of retired public employees and one that would have made it easier for students to receive more state tuition assistance if their parents’ income shrinks because they are called to active military service, become ill or disabled or because of other unforeseen circumstances.

Governor David Paterson's unusual televised Tuesday afternoon speech detailing the state budget's deficit and imploring lawmakers to head back to work* has been followed up with some specifics today. He says a 7% cut to state agency spending would save $630 million. Paterson also suggests an "immediate hard hiring freeze," and wants the Legislature to help find $1.2 billion in savings.

Mayor Bloomberg stood up for rich New Yorkers when he advised against the state raising income taxes on the wealthy. Why? He said, "I think at this point, where we're in competition with other cities around the world for entrepreneurs and the best and the brightest, it's not the time to be raising taxes."

With the writers' strike looking like it'll wrap up this week, Crain's points us towards another problem for New York's entertainment industry.

It's a refrain that already sounds familiar and will no doubt be repeated many times more: Officials expect real estate revenues to fall, causing lots of number crunching in budgets.

So much for halting the hike! Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer have both given their approval of the MTA's proposed 4-7% fare hikes for subway and bus riders. The base fare will remain $2, but the unlimited Metrocard prices will increase. The Mayor (from China apparently) said, "Based on the information that my staff and I have received and reviewed over the past few weeks, I am now satisfied that the MTA budget is a...