Governor David Paterson today proposed a series of spending cuts and new fees and taxes to close a total $15 billion gap in the State's budget this year and next. Major areas hit in the Governor's Executive Budget for FY2009-2010 are health care ($3.5 billion), education ($2 billion) and elimination of the STAR school tax adjustment rebate ($1.7 billion). Human services programs were targeted for $385 million in cuts while mental hygiene services (OMH, OMRDD, OASAS) will be cut by $425 million. Proposals to increase revenues by $3.1 billion focused on fees and sales tax increases while avoiding increases to the State's personal income tax rates.
