NY State budget draws growing backlash over taxes and fees

Spending is up 8.7% over previous year
By Matthew Spina
NEWS STAFF REPORTER

New Yorkers howl every year about their state budget. This year it’s more visceral.
State leaders are about to assault the nation’s highest-taxed state with a new round of taxes and fees. In the middle of a recession, no less.

“It’s just a sad commentary on New York State that our local representatives aren’t listening to their constituents,” said Colleen C. DiPirro, president and chief executive of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, a group with an ear to effects on the upstate economy.

“I can assure you this much,” said Michael Johnson, president of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, “drastic spending, increases in taxes and eliminating the middle-class STAR program is not the answer to New York State’s deficit.” the rest