Jump to full article: New York Journal News, 2010-02-04
Author: Marsha Gordon / The writer is president and CEO, the Business Council of Westchester.
Intro: Westchester residents awoke on a recent morning to news that Westchester County is facing a $60 million budget hole.
Just weeks into 2010, and we're already behind -- by a lot.
The grim news was delivered by newly elected County Executive Rob Astorino, who has the unenviable -- and always unpopular -- task of reining in spending wherever he can. Facing a $60 million deficit just weeks into his term, County Executive Astorino's job just got a lot tougher.
Westchester is not alone in projecting 2010 deficits. . . .
This is not a matter of sovereignty. New York has the power to collect tax on cigarettes that are sold to New Yorkers -- whether those cigarettes come from another state, another country or even a reservation. The Supreme Court said so. . . .
High taxes and spending are ruining New York state. But with the deficits we're facing now, it defies reason not to collect taxes already on the books, taxes that are legally owed.
We can't afford to wait any longer, Gov. Paterson. We need you to step up and start collecting the cigarette taxes now.
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