By TERESA SAYWARD
For seven years, I have had the privilege of representing the people of the 113th Assembly District. This past year has been extremely difficult with both the federal government and New York State struggling through tough financial times.
For the past three years, the New York State Comptroller's Office has painted a grim picture of looming deficits and lagging revenues. Taxpayers have consistently asked for relief from escalating property taxes. Businesses are struggling and manufacturing jobs are locating elsewhere, or simply going out of business.
New York state's reaction to the outcry from our overburdened taxpayers was to form a commission to study the issue.
The Suozzi Commission was formed, and ultimately issued a report with three main recommendations: cap spending, end unfunded mandates and implement a circuit breaker tax credit to bring relief for property owners. However, none of these policies were implemented. In fact, New York instead raised taxes and fees by $4.1 billion in this year's budget.
How can we rebuild our economy when our struggling businesses are being asked to pay more? New York state's budget calls for increased fees for selling cigarettes. The fee, which was $200, will now be $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 per year, based on gross sales. The license to sell cold prepared foods like subs and sandwiches has doubled. One small business told me that they will pay $8,000 more in fees this year. The Empire Zone program is being dropped and hospitals and nursing homes are being taxed. This is not the answer to solving our state's financial troubles.
In addition, people will pay more for their hunting and fishing licenses, auto registrations, driver's licenses, electric bills and health and auto insurance premiums, among a multitude of other increased fees. Pension costs will skyrocket and in turn, towns and counties will be forced to raise taxes to meet their obligations.
For the last two years, I have asked for a cost-benefit analysis to be done on all state park holdings. New York owns millions of acres of land, thousands of campgrounds and far too many golf courses, swimming pools, zoos and more. Do we need to keep all of them? Do we need to purchase more Adirondack land? Can we eliminate all political appointees?
Why not implement a true hiring freeze that includes Senate and Assembly staff? Can we identify each agency's core mission and get back to funding the basics? Can we get away from the idea that government can continue to provide such an array of free benefits? Nothing was done; just more taxing and spending! We need to stop. I have voted "no" on the New York State budget for the past three years, yet the majority of our legislators continue to approve these measures. We need to have a frank discussion about New York's $54 billion deficit, yet it never happens.
I am asking for your help. Please support the "People's Convention to Reform New York Act." This bill was introduced by our Republican Conference and now has bi-partisan support. The bill calls for a People's Constitutional Convention. Help me put New York back in the hands of the people, not the politicians.
Teresa Sayward is member of Assembly representing the 113th District. She lives in Willsboro.
