Published: January 08, 2009 01:12 am      

STATE OF STATE: Upstate lawmakers concerned about WNY tax burden

Some upstate representatives heard cause for concern in Gov. David Paterson’s first State of the State address on Wednesday.

Several local lawmakers worried that Paterson’s budget will put a bigger burden on taxpayers. However, Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Lewiston, and Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, were pleased by the governor’s references to projects in the Niagara region.

Paterson speech included talk of the tourism industry in Niagara Falls. DelMonte cited the proposed Niagara Experience Center as one example of the type of project she hopes will become a reality through a collaboration between the city and the state’s Empire State Development Corp.

“Reducing state mandates, lowering business taxes, easing regulations and lowering property taxes are the spark we need to ignite the dormant upstate economic engine,” she said.

Maziarz, who serves as co-chair on the Senate’s Energy Committee, gave Paterson high marks for focusing part of his speech on energy production, including a reference to upstate becoming a hub of development for batteries used by big three automakers in the production of hybrid vehicles.

“It was a positive part of the speech,” Maziarz said. “The problem is, will we have the money to do it?”

Maziarz did not like Paterson’s focus on new taxes, as opposed to an emphasis on consolidation of agencies. Maziarz believes more could be accomplished by consolidating state agencies such as the Thruway Authority and the Department of Transportation and eliminating others, such as the state Liquor Authority.

Republican Assembly members Jane Corwin of Clarence and Steve Hawley of Batavia decried the governor’s 137 new taxes. Hawley noted $12.7 million would be taken from Niagara County schools.

Corwin said she looked forward to working across party lines to strengthen the state’s economy, but not by increasing the burden on middle-class families.

Assemblyman Jim Hayes, R-Amherst, was pleased that the governor renewed his call for a cap on property taxes and mandate relief for local governments.

Niagara County Legislature’s Majority Leader Richard Updegrove, who chairs the county’s Economic Development Committee, remains hopeful that the state will be able to follow through on Paterson’s commitment to maintain the Upstate Revitalization Fund. Niagara County was the first county in the state to submit a list of projects that could be funded under the initiative.

Updegrove said county officials also are working on a plan of a different sort for Paterson, who said that he would welcome suggestions from his critics for ways to address the state’s budget problems.

Updegrove said the county intends to submit several recommendations for addressing Medicaid spending and other costly state programs that impact local property taxpayers.

“We have an understanding of how these issues impact Niagara County taxpayers. So, our suggestions are going to be from the Niagara County taxpayers,” he said. “What are the issues that are driving our budget? We know what those issues are.”

The governor will hold a series of public meetings across upstate New York over the next six weeks, starting Sunday in Watertown. Other scheduled stops include Western New York, the Finger Lakes region and the Southern Tier.

Other reaction to the governor’s speech included:

• Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, R-Clarence: “With the state deficit at $15 billion, state debt at $55 billion and thousands of private sector jobs lost, New York cannot afford to tax, spend and borrow our way out of a financial hole.”

• Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia: “Creating over 130 new taxes, totaling nearly $4 billion, is not the solution. Nor is passing along over $1 billion ‘cuts’ to be funded by local governments and taxpayers.”

• Assemblyman Jim Hayes, R-Amherst: “I would like to have seen more emphasis on reform of state spending, particularly focusing on rooting out the billions of dollars in waste and corruption in Medicaid.”