DiNapoli puts current NY deficit at $1 billion

 yikes!!!!!!!!!!!   Andrew Cuomo has his work cut out for him......and then some...........andy

Tim Roske / APNew York Gov. David Paterson (center left) vetoes budget bills in his office at the Capitol, in Albany, with the assistance of his counsel Peter Kiernan (center right) in this photo from July 1. Despite Paterson's efforts to curb spending, the state's budget deficit is estimated Monday to approach $1 billion.

 

Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state's current deficit is nearly $1 billion, three times larger than projected by Gov. David Paterson.
Paterson's budget office says the comptroller's new estimate isn't outlandish. But his administration doesn't agree with it, at least not now.
The Legislature is expected to hold a special session soon to try to cut spending. That could include school aid.
The disputed number surfaced Monday at the first public meeting of top-level staffers on the 2011-12 fiscal year budget.
They say that although there are signs of slow recovery in jobs and wages, the end of the recession will be followed by painful years of recovery.
—Copyright 2010 Associated Press