ALBANY – One local Democratic lawmaker called the proposals in Governor Spitzer’s State of the State address “bold, visionary and urgently needed” in upstate.
Republicans agree the Governor’s plan sounds good, for the most part. Some, however, are skeptical the state can afford it.
Spitzer says it will require tough decisions come budget time.
“We must make the hard choices necessary to live within our means – recognizing that every choice must help the people of New York invent a better future,” he said.
Notably for Upstate, Spitzer is calling for a $1 billion fund to go toward investing in businesses, infrastructure needs for shovel-ready sites and agribusiness.
The plan also calls for the formation of a bipartisan commission to come up with reccomendations aimed at reforming the root causes of why taxes are so high, making the tax relief system fairer for middle class taxpayers and putting a “fair” cap on school spending.
Town of Smyrna Supervisor Jim Bays (D) says the proposed $1 billion investment into upstate economies couldn’t be a better plan at a better time.
“The fund would provide the capital that is needed to attract businesses to upstate New York; provide significant aid for fast-growing businesses and industry sectors throughout the State; strengthen our infrastructure; and fund several critical economic development projects in each region of Upstate,” Bays stated in a press release Wednesay. “The Governor’s proposal is bold, visionary, and urgently needed in our upstate communities. It is evidence that when it comes to revitalizing upstate, the Governor means business.”
Senator Tom Libous (R-Binghamton) say he’s anxious to see if Spitzer’s $1 billion for upstate and other funding can actually materalize in a fiscally sound budget, and if any of that money will come to parts of the Southern Tier like Chenango and Broome counties.
“What does it mean for Chenango County? I didn’t hear a lot about the Southern Tier in his address. I heard a lot about what’s going to happen in Buffalo, Long Island and the Hudson Valley,” Libous said. “I’m anxious to hear those details.”
Spitzer will be giving the first ever State of Upstate address in Buffalo next week. Libous hopes more specific details about this area will come out then.
“Let’s hear what he has to say,” said Libous.
The Republican-led Senate is proposing legislation this session that would double and triple rebate checks for seniors and STAR program participants over the next two years. It would also freeze taxes paid to schools and eventually phase them out for residential taxpayers in five years and replace that money with state aid.
Spitzer’s response: “Experience has taught us that we need stronger medicine.”
“A rebate check may temporarily ease the pain, but it doesn’t cure the disease,” he said. “In the end, it’s a losing game for the taxpayer if the state gives you a rebate check on Monday and then on Tuesday your local government taxes it away.”
The governor wants to eliminate unfunded state mandates that are now shouldered by local shares and also reign in school district overspending and force them to still provide high quality education at a lower cost.
“A tax cap is a blunt instrument, but it forces hard choices and discipline when nothing else works,” he said. “Let’s finally get real about property taxes. That is what our taxpayers demand, and that is what we must deliver.”
Libous admits he isn’t sure what the solution to high property taxes should be – with school taxes rising 7 percent annually, and making up two-thirds of people’s property tax bill – but said the ultimate goal is that the Legislature and Governor come up with something that works, regardless of whose idea it is.
“I like the Senate proposal because it gives immediate relief,” Libous said. “But I understand also that there is no simple solution. But giving higher rebates is something I know we can do and should do. That said, I’m open to whatever the governor’s commission comes up with. If it’s a plan that works, good for them. We should all join.”
In education, citing success last year in such programs as the Contract for Excellence, Spitzer has also called for increasing accountability school-by-school.
In higher education, the governor wants create a $4 billion endowment to hire new professors 2,000 to the SUNY and CUNY system in the next five years and increase investment in research programs in the state’s universities and colleges, as well as fund more tech-skilled job training at community colleges. “Supercharging cutting-edge academic research will also supercharge our innovation economy,” he said.
Spitzer also addressed massively improving children’s health care and childhood disease prevention, along with reducing energy consumption and increasing renewable energy production statewide. He also will invest upgrade public safety, neighborhoods and state parks in rundown areas.
“First, we must rein in New York’s high cost of living and doing business – that perfect storm of unaffordability that is battering so many hard working New Yorkers. We must focus intently on reducing New York’s tax burden,” Spitzer said Wednesday. “Second, we must break gridlock and break ground on key infrastructure projects and invest in building livable communities. And third, we must make a major and immediate investment in the revitalization of upstate.”
Here’s how others responded:
Senator James Seward (R-Oneonta) – “I echo his call for no new taxes, and I intend to hold him to it when he submits his budget. He made the same pledge last year, and in his campaign, and then asked for $800 million in new taxes in his 2007 budget. We stopped that cold and will do it again.
“His proposed commission on property tax relief is not enough. The people I represent on farms, at senior citizen centers and on Main Street already know property taxes are too high.We don’t need a panel of experts to tell us that. We need action.”
Assemblyman Cliff Crouch: “Listening to Governor Spitzer give his second state of the state address today allowed for more consideration for our upstate residents than the previous year. The governor’s belief that a property tax cap is necessary falls in line with my beliefs and those of my colleagues in the Assembly. I encourage the Governor to follow through in his message, for a commission is something we as a state cannot wait around for, our residents need relief and they need it now. The absurd property taxes here in New York are forcing our families and communities to dissolve and disappear, something we cannot endure for much longer.”