State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell hit the nail on the head.
While many officials here and across New York applauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his State of the State speech, Goodell, a Jamestown Republican, had the same concern others should have - reducing Albany's expenses. "The future of New York state depends on long-term, sustainable, private sector job growth," Goodell told Nicholas L. Dean, our newspaper's county beat reporter. "And the best way to achieve that type of investment in New York state is to bring the business costs in line with the rest of the nation."
Though Cuomo did say he will "hold the line on spending this year and close the remaining budget deficit with no new taxes and no new fees," there was no plan or proposal for how that will happen. Instead, state taxpayers heard about the grand plans for a convention center downstate, legalized gambling revenue and a questionable $1 billion "stimulus" for Buffalo to help lower the queen city's high poverty rate.
But throwing money - especially big money - at longtime problems in Western New York will not cure poverty levels, create jobs or bring prosperity. If someone thinks this is the case, just look to the federal bailouts in 2008 and '09. Is our jobless rate any better today than it was three years ago?
As for mandate relief, which is a familiar refrain around here, it seemed to be more lip service.
Yes, Medicaid costs are too high, but the other problems stem from the public-sector contracts that keep labor costs in our state, county, schools and municipalities out of whack with the private sector.
If you happen to believe public-sector salaries are comparable to what is earned in the private sector, consider how you manage your household. There, many of us are attempting to reduce our costs.
Residents will pay a teenager $15 to mow their lawn or $10 to shovel their walk. So why would we pay public-workers salaries that top $50,000 - not including the pensions, days off and benefits - for those doing the same job on a larger scale?
No matter how you look at it, in a county where the median income is $35,000, those wages and benefits in the public-sector are quite generous.
Our governor had a good first year in 2011. But without having a plan for reducing expenses in the coming year in Albany, he is headed down a similar path of previous leaders. A path his father took plenty of heat over and one George Pataki was unscathed for: spending more than our means.
John D'Agostino is publisher of the OBSERVER. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.
