Politics on the Hudson

The average family of four in New York would have to dish out $3,875 a year in new taxes and fees if Gov. David Paterson’s budget proposal is approved, a review Thursday by Assembly Republicans shows.

From $73 a year on deposits on water and juice bottles to a $720 increase in state college tuition and fees, the average family would be further pinched by the governor’s proposal, said Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady.

“All these tax-and-fee hikes are like declaring war on New York’s middle-class families,” Tedisco said.

Paterson has come under heavy criticism for proposing 137 new taxes and fees and revenue raisers to help close a $15.4 budget deficit in the 2009-10 fiscal year, which starts April 1.

The state Labor Department announced Thursday that New York last month had the largest decline in private-sector jobs in more than seven years and the unemployment rate climbed to 6.1 percent, the highest since April 2004.

The Democratic governor, who is legally blind, said Thursday “even I can see what’s wrong with this budget.” He said he tried to spread the pain as evenly as possible. He said Tedisco and other leaders have not offered alternatives.

“It is draconian,” he said of the budget. “It is exactly what people describe it. But as governor, I had a constitutional purpose. I had to deliver a plan that reduces the budget deficit by April 1.”

The Republicans’ review is based on the average, after-tax income of $45,343 for a family of four in New York. It estimates how many movies, music downloads, beer and clothes a typical family would purchase – all of which would face higher taxes under Paterson’s plan.

You can see the Republicans’ estimates here.

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