Empty promises, lost opportunities in new state budget
JAMES P. HAYES New York State Assembly
The just completed 2007-08 state budget process has left taxpayers holding a bag of empty promises and lost opportunities for getting state spending under control in order to help the private sector grow jobs in Western New York.

While there are many good things (like increased property tax rebate checks and increased aid for our local schools) contained in the just-passed, almost-on-time state budget, Albany has once again socked it to taxpayers with a record $122 billion for a plan that spends at a rate three times greater than that of inflation.

What's worse, this dramatic increase in spending for 2007-08 outpaces revenues (taxes) and creates an estimated $3.3 billion deficit next year. Obviously, that kind of spending is unsustainable, even in good economic times and is an almost certain recipe for even higher taxes, or deep painful cuts, next year.

It is certainly good news that taxpayers will receive an even larger STAR property tax rebate check later this year, yet the new budget doesn't cut taxes nearly enough for businesses and hardworking families in Amherst. As taxpayers in Erie County are painfully aware, government can't cut taxes and increase spending without creating a deficit crisis; it's just bad fiscal policy.

Adding insult to injury, the new budget also includes massive new borrowing and increases state debt to more than $50 billion. No debt reform was included. All of this spending and borrowing comes at a time when New York has a surplus of more than $4 billion. I believe the better choice for state legislators would have been to keep spending under control and use this surplus money to pay down high interest debt and invest in tax cuts to help grow the economy.

Despite promises from our new governor that everything about Albany's secretive, backroom dealing culture would change on "Day One" - it didn't. What occurred was a stunning collapse of openness and transparency and a blatant return to "three men in a room" deal-making that produced budget bills hot off the press less than an hour before the vote. That left rank-and-file members of the Legislature only a brief time - and the public no time - to read, understand and digest the details of the $122 billion "agreed upon" plan.

Faced with the prospect of continued runaway spending increases, higher taxes and higher debt, businesses will be forced to face the tough decision to stay or to leave for less taxing states, taking jobs and economic opportunity with them. Sadly, I'm afraid even more families and seniors will be forced to leave Western New York.

Needless to say, I cast my vote against this plan in protest. Western New Yorkers will never be freed from the crushing burden of our highest in-the-nation state and local tax burden until government at every level gets spending and borrowing under control. That goal needs to continue to be the focus of elected officials at every level of government, and I appreciate your support in working to help change the way Albany spends taxpayers money.

I welcome your thoughts and hope you will not hesitate to contact me at 634-1895, or via e-mail at hayesj@assembly.state.ny.us to share your views.