Paterson's budget: peaks and pitfalls

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Governor David Paterson unveiled new tax hikes and help for UB in his new hard times budget. The spending plan is bigger than ever, but still comes up short.

Paterson said, "This is not a budget of choice, it is a budget of necessity."

Facing another multi-billion dollar deficit, the governor is hiking taxes on cigarettes and soda pop, plus new fees and assessments. Some lawmakers say Albany can cut more fat out of the budget.

James Hayes(R), assemblyman from Amherst, said, "It calls for a billion dollars in new taxes and fees and assessments and this is something family and businesses just cannot accept in the current economic situation."

Overall aid to public schools is being slashed by five percent, but the SUNY system would be free to raise tuition up to six percent. It also gives the University at Buffalo the right to build a medical complex with Kaleida in downtown.

UB's President John Simpson said, "He understands that the better the university, the more impact it has on the local and statewide economy."

But assemblyman Jack Quinn and other Republican lawmakers don't like the fact that this budget is bigger than last year's.

Quinn said, "One of the things he's not saying is the budget is going up five billion dollars and you just can't continue to operate like that."

The medical profession, including Kaleida Health, are upset with the governor's budget saying it will decimate health care. And these parents who have children with special needs are concerned about these cuts.

More than 100 parents attended a meeting of the Developmental Disability Alliance. These parents and support staff are coping with $152 million in cuts for their kids in western New York.

>>>You can watch more of the press conference held by the Developmental Disability Alliance by following this link

Wendy McCarthy of the Developmental Disability Alliance said, "We have a significant wait list of 1,000 people who are looking for residential opportunity and while the budget does provide for some new development, it does not significantly impact the current situation."

The budget deadline is April 1st.