STATE OF NEW YORK
DIVISION OF THE BUDGET
ELIOT SPITZER, GOVERNORFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2007

CONTACT: Matt Anderson
matt.anderson@budget.state.ny.us
518.473.3885
TOWN HALL MEETINGS SCHEDULED IN BUFFALO AND ROCHESTER ON STATE BUDGETNEW YORKERS INVITED TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY ON STATE’S PRIORITIES FOR NEXT YEAR
The New York State Division of the Budget will hold town hall meetings on Saturday, November 17 in Buffalo and Rochester to discuss the challenges the state faces in developing its 2008-09 budget, and to seek input from the public regarding the state’s priorities for the coming year.

Hearings are scheduled for:

• 10 a.m., Buffalo Science Museum, 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo.
• 3 p.m., University of Rochester Medical Center, Class of ‘62 Auditorium, Room G9425, 415 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester.

Both hearings will be webcast and may be viewed at www.budget.state.ny.us.

“The principles of openness, transparency, and accountability will guide us through what promises to be a challenging budget process in a difficult economic climate,” Governor Spitzer said. “Public engagement will be essential in reaching consensus on the tough but necessary choices we need to make among competing priorities.”

At the meetings, New York State Director of the Budget Paul Francis, and other decision makers responsible for crafting the Executive Budget that the Governor will present to the Legislature in January, will make presentations about the fiscal climate facing the state in the coming year. Members of the public will then be able to submit testimony or ask questions.

Those interested in making a statement or asking a question can sign up in advance either via the web at www.budget.state.ny.us, by phone at 518-473-3885, or via email at BudgetHearing@budget.state.ny.us. Participants wishing to comment who are not pre-registered will be accommodated, as time allows, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Director of the Budget and Senior Advisor to the Governor, Paul Francis, said, “With troubles on Wall Street leading to decreases in projected revenues, we need to find ways to do more with less. That means engaging the public as we determine our priorities for how to best use the state’s limited financial resources, while minimizing the burden on taxpayers and keeping our businesses climate competitive.”

Additional town hall meetings will be held around the state throughout the month of November. “Issue town halls” focusing on specific policy areas of the budget will also be held in early December in Albany. On October 30, the Division of the Budget released its Mid-year Update to the state financial plan. In that report, DOB projected that the General Fund budget gap for the 2008-09 fiscal year has increased by roughly $651 million to $4.3 billion from the $3.6 billion gap initially projected in July. This increase largely reflects the impact of the current economic slowdown and problems in the financial services and real estate sectors on revenues. In January, Governor Spitzer will release a balanced Executive Budget that closes this potential gap, incorporating input from the public, elected officials, and other stakeholders.

For more information visit www.budget.state.ny.us or call 518-473-3885.
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