State Budget Needed NOW!!! - Editorial Comment

The people’s representatives in Albany continue to bicker as jobs are threatened over the adopting of a state budget. Adoption was due April 1st, it is now June and no budget is in sight!
The effect upon every New Yorker is higher costs for all services as local governments from school districts to towns, villages, municipalities and counties must borrow money in order to maintain the present level of services they provide. The unknown creates worst case scenarios among local governments whereby they are forced to pay high interest rates for short term loans. If a budget is in place they all know what to expect regarding the amount of tax dollars they will receive from Albany’s tax rolls.
The Governor has already attempted to stop road construction that is funded through state taxes. Presently, he has been thwarted in his effort due to court action. However he has delayed payments to construction contractors and expects them to continue performing work without being paid in a timely fashion. This is a formula for disaster! Soon Local 3 members and other workers working on Department of Transportation projects may have their livelihood threatened because of the budget impasse. This is unacceptable!!
We urge every member to contact Governor Paterson, State Senate President John L. Sampson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and their individual state senator and assemblyman and give them an earful!
Let them know November is on the way and a serious backlash is in the making if they fail to do their civic duty and pass a state budget NOW!!!