Gov's Budget Comes With Hefty Price Tag

I have real concerns that Governor Eliot Spitzer’s proposed 2008-09 executive budget would make it harder for New York’s overtaxed middle class families struggling to get by in the wake of a national economic recession. The Governor’s proposed budget contains nearly $2 billion in taxes and fees, would impose 44 new fees and fee increases, and cost every New York family more than $400 annually. New York’s middle class families already struggling with a recession simply cannot afford these additional fiscal burdens. Most concerning, the Governor’s budget fails to fully honor a promise made last year to deliver real property tax relief in the form of direct rebates to overtaxed middle class homeowners. By turning its back on New York’s middle class taxpayers, the Governor’s budget would make our state a more expensive place to live, work and raise a family.