The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: Chris on December 16, 2008, 10:40:39 PM
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Gov. David Paterson unveils dire New York State budget that includes new taxes, layoffs and cuts (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/12/16/2008-12-16_gov_david_paterson_unveils_dire_new_york.html)
ALBANY - Gov. Paterson's proposed $121 billion budget hits New Yorkers in their iPods - and nickels-and-dimes them in lots of other places, too.
Trying to close a $15.4 billion budget gap, Paterson called for 88 new fees and a host of other taxes, including an "iPod tax" that taxes the sale of downloaded music and other "digitally delivered entertainment services."
Movie tickets, taxi rides, soda, beer, wine, cigars and massages would be taxed under Paterson's proposal. It also extends sales taxes to cable and satellite TV services and removes the tax exemption for clothes costing less than $110.
Paterson's 2009-10 budget proposal represents only a 1% increase in total spending from this year's budget - the smallest increase in a dozen years. It also calls for:
- A 3.3%, or $698 million, reduction in school aid.
- $3.5 billion in health care savings, including reductions in payments to hospitals and nursing homes.
- Video slot machines at Belmont Park, more multistate lottery games and expanded hours for the state's Quick Draw lottery game.
- Layoffs for 521 state workers and the elimination of seven state agencies.
(more...) (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/12/16/2008-12-16_gov_david_paterson_unveils_dire_new_york.html)
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Why do people stay in NY?
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You got me. My family left New York 30 years ago and never looked back.
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Saw a run-down of some of these new taxes on the news this morning...8.75% tax on taxi fare, 8% on downloads, 8.75% on non-diet soft drinks and beer...what an ass-raping, though of course anyone still living in NY should be used to that by now.
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Eh, the governor's just trying to blind-side them. [/SNL mode] :-)
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Why do people stay in NY?
For much the same reasons that they stay in IL, CA, etc...I find it very similar to battered spouse syndrome.
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For much the same reasons that they stay in IL, CA, etc...I find it very similar to battered spouse syndrome.
Wait a minute. Outside of Crook County, the taxes aren't all that bad.
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Wait a minute. Outside of Crook County, the taxes aren't all that bad.
I look at it this way--mine don't suck at all (NH). Yeah, my property tax is higher than yours on a percentage basis, but it's a helluva lot less than I was paying for my crackerbox McMansion back in Cali. I figure that overall, I'm taking home at least an extra $100 a week by living here just in taxes alone.
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I look at it this way--mine don't suck at all (NH). Yeah, my property tax is higher than yours on a percentage basis, but it's a helluva lot less than I was paying for my crackerbox McMansion back in Cali. I figure that overall, I'm taking home at least an extra $100 a week by living here just in taxes alone.
Not to mention just the immense difference in cost of living overall, such as housing costs and lack of expensive government intrusion into one's life. It's hard to put into words the burden that was lifted when I was finally able to pull up stakes in NJ and get the Hell out of there for good. I was happy that I got the job there at the time 'cause ya gotta pay the bills, but damn, I NEVER intended to stay as long as it ended up being.
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Why do people stay in NY?
There is no logical reason and am hopeful that in the coming year I will join the fleeing masses.
Watch for a property tax crisis unlike anyone has imagined in the next year as well.
The very generous NYS retirement fund is likely to have a tremendous shortfall in the coming year as the investment "returns" are no where near enough to meet its obligations as a defined benefits plan.
Every county will be handed a bill for each of its public employees that is on the plan to make up the balance needed.
Meanwhile the state and the county have been reaping the benefits of the 2.80-4.25/gallon gas with sales tax being the last one tacked on....increase the base price and you also increase the revenue collected from the sales tax as it is a percent of the total.
Gas now at 1.80 is only generating a fraction of the sales tax it did a few months ago.
The dominoes have only started to fall.