March 31, 2009

THREE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATORS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PROPOSED 2009 NEW YORK STATE BUDGET

(Buffalo, NY) - Erie County Legislators John J. Mills, 13th District, Edward A. Rath III, 15th District, and Raymond W. Walter, 4th District, have submitted a resolution to the legislature opposing the proposed 2009 New York State Budget.

The proposed budged, crafted by Governor David Paterson and amended by the Legislature, would require New Yorkers to pay additional taxes and fees on daily activities such as operating vehicles and using heat and electricity in homes. There will also be additional fees and assessments on activities such as fishing and hunting, as well as consuming beer, wine and bottled water.

The new fees, taxes and assessments will result in $7 billion in revenue to fund spending by the state government. The proposed budget would also eliminate the STAR property tax rebate checks, decreasing the average Western New Yorker's budget by approximately $350.

The resolution requests that the New York State Legislature design a budget that better addresses the economic difficulties faced by the Western New York taxpayers. "How could this irresponsible budget benefit anyone but the New York State government and the special interests it's beholden to?" asked Walter, "This proposed plan is a get rich quick scheme for the state and will leave taxpayers cheated and angry." Rath added, "We are in a time of recession and economic decline. The proposed budget is business as usual when we need new ideas to rebuild our economy. We cannot tax ourselves to prosperity."

The resolution will be introduced by Mills, Walter and Rath at the April 2, 2009 session of the Erie County Legislature. "The officials and law makers of New York State must work together to provide the best plan for the taxpayers of Western New York," Mills stated. "The budget saddles taxpayers with crippling taxes and hardship during an economically difficult time. This proposed budget is an insult to the taxpayers of Erie County and it is imperative that it is rejected."

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