Sag Harbor - New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) today called for real action to stem the flood of red ink in the New York State Budget.

"I voted 'no' on every aspect of the 2009-2010 budget this past April," Thiele stated, "First, the underlying approach of the State Budget was wrong: increasing spending by nine percent and increasing taxes and fees by more than $8 billion. Just a few months later, unemployment rates continue to increase and the State is in a deficit. The State Budget was never sustainable."

Thiele explained that the state needs to curb spending, avoid any more state tax increases and finally institute local real property tax reform. Among the proposals which Thiele supports are:

 • Institution of a state spending cap.
 • Institution of a new Tier five state pension plan for new workers to reduce future state and local pension costs.
 • Institution of meaningful local real property tax reform by enacting both a school property tax levy cap and a real property circuit breaker program.
 • Authorization of cooperative actions among local governments to provide essential services such as health insurance and highway maintenance.

Thiele stated, "These actions would begin to reverse the trend of spiraling state spending and real property tax increases at the local level, which have broken the back of the state economy. These reforms are long overdue."

Thiele added that he would not support mid-year cuts to school districts or local hospitals. "New York State cannot solve its budget problems on the backs of school and hospitals," he said, "The only result would be increased property taxes and health care costs to already overburdened residents. However, it is clear that in next year's budget substantial efforts will be made across the board to address State Budget problems. Schools and hospitals should begin to prepare now."