DiNapoli: Things could get worse

The potential state deficit may be worse that the $4.3 billion currently being projected by the Spitzer administration, the state’s chief fiscal officer said yesterday (1/15/08).

”$4.3 billion is a conservative estimate,’’ Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in an interview on AM-1300 in Albany today. “The roller coaster of Wall Street is moving in the wrong direction.’’

GOv. Eliot Spitzer is due to present his budget plan for the fiscal year that starts April 1 to the Legislature a week from Today. His Budget Division placed the gap at $4.3 billion last fall, as tax revenues began to slip as Wall Street cooled. About 20 percent of state tax revenues are tied to the financial-services industry, by far the most volatile part of the state’s financial picture.

DiNapoli wouldn’t provide his own estimate, but said the state’s fiscal position could deteriorate.

Spitzer has pledged not to raise state taxes, but…

Governor’s Vision For Upstate Will Benefit Elmira, Mayor Tonello Says

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plans to pump more than $1 billion into the Upstate economy, commit 200 state troopers to help local police fight crime, cut taxes, reduce state mandates for municipalities, and make New York a stronger draw for business and young people will benefit the City of Elmira in 2008 and beyond, Mayor John Tonello said today. “The governor’s vision is clear and his aim is true,” Tonello said. “He recognizes the problems upstate cities face, and his solutions provide relief and assistance where we need it most.” The mayor’s comments came after the governor delivered his State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany. Click for the full release…

Clear vision? Aim is true? Sigh. Politicians sure do speak purty. How come there never is…

More than likely than not, included in tonight’s meeting on the Elmira City budget is the salary for new but yet to be announced City Attorney, John J.Ryan, Jr.

John J.Ryan, a good friend of City Manager John Burin, was Elmira’s City Attorney during at least some of the ill advised Iraci/Hughes era that landed Elmira in its current financial mess. Some of the legal problems Elmira is now paying for were John Ryan decisions on labor as well as costly handshake deals that were never put to paper.

Appointed to be City Attorney on Friday, January 4, former Elmira School District Attorney Ryan had just resigned without fanfare from his position with the school system on Wednesday, Jan 2 following a very stormy relationship which has created a number of problems for the local school district.

The school district is currently being sued over property that they just took title to…

CSEA members ratify contract

CSEA members overwhelmingly ratified a new contract for more than 70,000 state executive branch employees, the union announced yesterday. The vote was 29,755 to 1,839. The contract has to be approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

The agreement includes salary increases of 3 percent retroactive to April 2001 (when the previous contract ended,) 3 percent in April 2008, 3 percent in April 2009 and 4 percent in April 2010. Other parts of the contract include increases in longevity payments, improvement in downstate and mid-Hudson salary adjustments to reflect the higher cost of living there, and some increases in health insurance co-payments, balanced by a number of benefit enhancements.

The agreement is fair to employees and good for the people of New York, CSEA President Danny Donohue said in a statement. “The strength of the ratification demonstrates that our rank and file fully support the agreement,”…

Magic-wand school of public finance

http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2008/01/03/magic-wand-school-of-public-finance/

State Senate Republicans today wheeled out a plan that would seem to answer the prayers of property-tax payers around the state. They want to triple the property-tax rebates that were mailed to taxpayers this year, and over five years eliminate all school property taxes for homeowners.

What is the catch, you ask?

Well, there is a minor issue known as cost. The tab would be $11.6 billion after five years.

There’s no indication where the money would come to pay for any of it. A spokesman said it would come “out of the budget.’’ That would be $4 billion to be found somewhere next year, and then an additional $1.9 billion a year for four years after that.

The state is already facing a potential $4.3 billion deficit for the fiscal year that starts April 1.

Tobacco sales out at Wegmans

Wegmans has decided to stop selling tobacco products at all its grocery stores.

I’m of two minds on this, not being a smoker, I could not care less, but I dislike the PC view of the holier than though crowd.  Is Wegmans going to get rid of all the foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup and maybe the entire cereal and potato chip sections?  I think not.

Dresser workers harassed, union says

Union members who have gone back to work at Dresser-Rand Co. are facing harassment and threats that they will be fired, the union’s president said.

Did the teeney-weeney-oh-so-cuddeley Union workers get ther itty-bitty-pretty feelings hurt?

Union calls for end Dresser-Rand strike

Local 313 IUE-CWA, the union representing about 400 employees at Dresser-Rand, announced late Monday night that its leadership voted to end the strike and make an unconditional offer to return to work under the terms of the 2004 expired agreement, according to a news release from the union.

There was no other way this one would turn out, Shame that these workers are going to get screwed, and not by DR, but by the union that supposedly represents them.  Rest assured, the union will be fine though.

State OKs hospitals’ plan

New York state’s health commissioner has reluctantly agreed with Arnot Ogden Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital that the two facilities cannot join forces.

The business cultures at St. Joes and the Arnot are almost diametrically opposite, St.Joes is not going to survive unless they get a big benafactor (Namely the Guthrie) to take them over, only problem with that is that Sister Mary is not going to like her big fish status being downgraded or compeltely elminated.  So I prophsey, nothing much will go on at St. Joes while she is still running things, or until things get so bleak, change is forced, kicking and screaming on her.

The Arnot?  Business as usual, and business for them is pretty good, so get out fo the way.