New York Gov. David Paterson's proposed budget cuts 5% from school aid and adds $1 billion in new taxes and fees, creating a plan that analysts mostly viewed as appropriate during hard times. But the package Gov. Paterson said would end "the era o Read More
Tax filers beware: Gov. Paterson's 2010-11 budget proposal would add hundreds of tax auditors in hopes of shaking every penny out of New Yorkers. Paterson wants $17 million to hire 330 new tax auditors, computer experts and compliance officers - a Read More
Gov. Paterson delivered a hard-times $134 billion spending plan yesterday that would slash school aid, deny hundreds of millions of dollars to the city's coffers, and raise taxes on soda and smokes. The bare-bones, 2010-11 budget would hold spendi Read More
Wednesday, the legislature passed its ethics reform bill. "As far as I'm concerned, this bill is a long time coming," said Senator Eric Schneiderman. The legislature went ahead with its ethics reform package, despite Governor Paterson's warning Read More
Gov. David A. Paterson's proposed $134 billion "budget of necessity" confronts the reality of the fiscal crisis facing New York. Facing a $7.4 billion deficit in the next fiscal year, state leaders have to hold the line on spending. The proposed b Read More
It was just a week ago that we posted a list of the budgeted salaries for all school superintendents across the state. Now we're adding a companion database that contains all Western New York school district employees who earned $100,000 or more in 2 Read More
When the Utica Board of Education approved retiree health-care benefits for a large group of teachers 16 months ago, it had no idea what the added burden to taxpayers might be. Now, officials do know — and the price tag is staggering. For its Read More
Gov. Paterson’s second Executive Budget is not nearly as tough as his rhetoric (or the headlines) would imply. But in dollars and cents terms alone, it is relatively restrained and almost fiscally conservative -- by Albany’s low standards, that is. Read More