Here & There Column 4-7-09

Klatch Takes On The State Budget

With the economy as sad as it is our local Sullivan County coffee klatsch decided to bake up some extra home made donuts and brew our special brand of java as we attempted to examine the proposed New York State budget and why Governor David Paterson's rating continues to go from bad to worse.
It became very clear as we discussed and debated the state budget that there is no easy solution in the state's attempt to close what they are saying is a $17.7 billion dollar budget gap.
Several members of the klatsch were very vocal in their opposition to Gov. Patterson's ordering 8,900 state workers be laid off because unions refused concessions. After discussion on this subject we unanimously agreed that unions and everyone has to bite the bullet during these tough times and concessions are in order.
After pouring our second cup of coffee we unanimously agreed that the reason for Governor Patterson's rating going down hill is because the citizens of our state continue to believe the state is not going in the right direction and the governor is not doing a good job.
And what can we look for in the new state budget.......aid to public schools would increase about $1.1 billion....but several of our klatch members fear increases in local property taxes, taxes and fee increases including vehicle registration charges and increases in college tuition's, no more tax rebate checks to residents, but, the STAR and NYC Star credit will continue, we'll see a bigger bottle bill including a nickel deposit on bottled water.
Our klatch didn't support very much of the proposed state budget and agreed that the State of New York has gone through years of overspending and now more then ever must consider downsizing and consolidation.