Unshackle Upstate Proposes $12 Billion in State Savings

ROCHESTER, NY (02/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Unshackle Upstate today released its 2010 policy agenda that included $12 billion in cost savings for New York's 2010-11 budget year. These aggressive but vitally needed recommendations will help bring fiscal reform to New York.

"New York cannot afford another decade of reckless spending, especially when state revenues have dropped by 36 percent since 2008," said Brian Sampson, the group's executive director. "During these tough economic times, fiscal responsibility is not only common sense, but imperative to the livelihood of our state and our citizens. Without dramatic changes in our tax-and-spend culture, people, private sector jobs and the wealth they create will be driven from the state and our abysmal fiscal situation will only continue to get worse."

Since 2000, New York State's budget has increased from $75 billion to $131.8 billion. While the 2010-11 budget proposal attempts to address the current deficit, New York still faces an ever-growing deficit that could increase to more that $20.7 billion in three years. Earlier this month, Unshackle Upstate released a five-year plan to right-size the state budget to a more sustainable $109 billion by 2015. This initiative, coupled with the list of cuts released today, proposes returning the state budget to the level it was in 2000 – $77.5 billion. Then it should be adjusted for inflation based on the consumer price index.

Sampson is in Albany today testifying before the Joint Legislative Committee on Taxes. The coalition's two major budgetary concerns are the proposed 12-percent increase in spending over the last two year's and the $1.4 billion in new taxes and fees.

"We are calling on our elected representatives to take the steps necessary to lift the burdens of regulation and taxation which hinder us in our ability to do business here in New York," states Sampson. "Our legislators have the capacity to make New York a stronger place to live, work and raise a family. They can create a plan that would welcome private sector job growth, not force them away with high taxes and regulatory obstacles. The question is will they? And if they won't, are we, as citizens, ready to hold them accountable? The answer is an unequivocal yes!"

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Unshackle Upstate is a bi-partisan coalition represents more than 45,000 employers with more than one million workers in every region of upstate. The coalition's website, www.unshackleupstate.com, allows citizens to join the Unshackle Army and send messages to elected officials in Albany.

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