LEADER BRIAN KOLB: GOVERNOR PATERSON’S CLAIM OF $74 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND COST SAVINGS TO RE-OPEN STATE PARKS RINGS HOLLOW

STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER BRIAN M. KOLB (R,I,C-CANANDAIGUA):

“While I am pleased that our state’s parks and historic sites will be re-opened for the Memorial Day holiday after Governor Paterson had closed them, his claims of reducing General Fund spending by $74 million rings hollow. This deal, brokered by the Democrat Majorities to re-open the parks, was based on a re-programming of Real Estate Transfer Taxes, raiding the State’s Environmental Protection Fund, along with an imposition of millions in new fees, including $10.8 million in surcharges from last year’s budget and $2.1 million in new fines. The Governor essentially ransomed our State Parks to impose yet another fee increase on New York taxpayers. I can’t decide what is worse: the fact the Governor closed our State Parks or his mischaracterizing how their re-opening will be paid for. This is a cash grab, plain and simple.”

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