ALBANY — The New York State budget deficit of $14.5 billion has state officials scratching their heads on how to close the gap, especially if the federal government doesn’t offer some form of bailout.
On a Thursday conference call, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said if there’s no federal aid, there are options than can be taken to “try to fill” the gap.
“Taxes, cuts, borrowing, early retirement, all of the above, and all of the above won’t fill that hole,” Cuomo said,
Permanent across the board 20 percent cuts for schools, hospitals and local governments haven’t been made, yet, there have been with-holdings, and counties across the state are already feeling financial pains.
“They are now slowly turning off the reimbursement, and state funding valve to local governments and schools, so they can meet there they can slow the funds, going out of the state budget and try to close their budget gap. There are other ways that they can go about doing this, but this is the way that they have chosen,” said New York State Association of Counties Deputy Director Mark LaVigne.
The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) has put together a report of more than 80 recommendations that can be taken to close budget gaps.
“I don’t think we can wait any longer. Honestly, there’s a good chance that Washington either doesn’t come through at all or comes through but not to the level that we need to continue to provide services that our residents need locally. So, we need some action from the state, we need some decisions from the state that will help counties and local governments and schools get through these times,” LaVigne said.
Some actions include granting “permanent sales tax authority for all counties for a local sales tax at their existing rate or up to 4 percent,” temporarily allowing counties to exceed the property tax cap “without penalty” in certain cases, increasing Thruway tolls for out of state residents, and allowing mobile sports gaming that shares revenue with counties.
Legalize marijuana
Stop funding illegal immigrants. Since under our state officials the state is not upholding the constitution and laws of the United States and the State of New York, due to the bad decisions of our state officials maybe they should be the first people of this state to feel the pinch.
All state elected and appointed officials should have there pay frozen indefinitely until this situation is resolved. This would include the retirement accounts of all said officials. Past present and future.
Also any burdens they put on the legal citizens and businesses of this states should be applied double to them. That is to includes taxes, fees,
tolls, and other schemes they come up with inflect the people and business of New York.
Free healthcare…. Free College….. Free Rent….. Free Welfare…….. Free Foodstamps……
Never thought that the $$$$$ had to come from somewhere…
Spend.. Spend… Spend…. (It must be nice to be able to spend MORE than you make)
And now we’re in the hole & guess what …. the working tax payers will have to pay the price for all the FREEBIES