This is the second part of a two-part series.
After eight “temporary fixes” to fiscal year 2010-2011”™s state budget, which again was passed late, we asked our chambers of commerce and business leaders throughout the Hudson Valley their opinion of its ramifications. We offer opinions and welcome you to add your voice to theirs. Here is what some of your peers had to say:
Peter Bardunias                                                             Â
President and CEO
Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce
Putnam County Chamber of Commerce (ex-officio)
“Like all businesses, we are concerned that our state needs to get its affairs in order. I”™m glad a budget has finally been passed. Now we have to live with its consequences, and I”™m sure many will be negatively impacted.
The MTA tax is salt on the wound. We are in the fight to eliminate or reduce it. It”™s time they got their affairs in order without putting it on the backs of the citizens who use it least. What happens if we lose companies in the Hudson Valley bottling business because of the new bottle bill? The state is being penny-wise and pound foolish.”
Harold King                                                               Â
Executive Vice President
The Council of Industry
Newburgh
“The final state budget bill is very disappointing. It contains more than $1 billion in new taxes and fees, on top of the already imposed $1 billion in additional revenue measures adopted earlier this year. Instead of solving our financial problems by creating a sustainable business climate, this budget only exacerbates the already critical financial situation.
“In working with manufacturers throughout the Hudson Valley region, I am acutely aware of the high taxes and fees already imposed on our businesses and of the difficult decisions manufacturers are forced to make every day to keep competitive globally. With this budget, New York state lawmakers decided to add new taxes and fees on businesses, significantly cut and reduce valuable economic development programs, and abandon previously promised investment incentives, hurting the very same businesses needed to sustain and grow jobs. This is not a workable solution.”
Joyce Minard                                                              Â
President and CEO
New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce
New Paltz
“I”™ve been so wound up in the health care reform legislation, the budget is anticlimactic. What do we tell our members? They can”™t run their businesses the way the state runs the state or they”™d be out of business!
“We look ridiculous to the entire country. Our taxes are a disgrace. My mother had to give up her home and move into an apartment to stay here. Is this what we have to offer our seniors after a lifetime of service to the community?
“We”™ll have to work with it as best we can and adjust to it. Governor Paterson had a hard road ”“ instead of seeing a team effort, it was anything but that. Our legislators need to be legislators without borders. It”™s time to come into compliance with spending. We”™ve had to do it. Are they immune to today”™s financial situation?”
Ann Meagher                                                                 Â
President and CEO
Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce
Wappingers Falls
“There is not much in the state budget for business to be happy about. After waiting four months past the due date, the $136.5 billion budget includes new fees and reduced tax credits that will inevitably result in continued stagnation of job growth in the private sector. It repeals a tax exemption on clothing purchases under $110 ”“ which hits families and many small businesses square in their pocketbooks. And I”™ll also take this opportunity to complain about what wasn”™t adopted: making permanent a program that reduces energy costs, and any form of property-tax relief. Then there”™s the elimination of the Empire Zone program that provided tax credits to businesses in exchange for job creation. It was our one working economic development tool, particularly in the Hudson Valley. Now it”™s gone. In my view, the state budget included not a single, worthy initiative to create any new jobs or improve New York”™s economy.Â
So, you want my reaction to the state budget? It”™s absolutely shameful.”
Ross Pepe                                                      Â
President and CEO
Construction Industry Council
Building Contractors Association
Westchester and the Hudson Valley
White Plains
“The budget for transportation is not what it should be. It”™s going to impact projects all over the Hudson Valley. It reduces the Department of Transportation”™s spending ”¦ over the next two years, which will affect both construction and labor.
“There was originally $2.2 billion set aside ”“ now, it”™s $1.7 billion. It”™s a tough budget, and we understand tough times, but they didn”™t need to delay to get the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to contractors who already completed their work. It has a detrimental effect on job and completion dates.
“The problem is in the private sector ”“ it is practically dead. Projects under way will be completed within six to 12 months, but there”™s nothing new in the pipeline to help our industry. Twenty-five percent of our construction labor force is out of work.”
