But the lottery was supposed to save local taxpayers millions every year, why hasn’t it and where has the money gone? All the money has gone into the school budget as it was or is supposed to, problem is for every dollar the lotto puts in the state has taken out and put into the general fund. So instead of giving the taxpayers a break at the local level as it was intended to do, Albany politicians have enjoyed all the more of our tax dollars to blow on pet projects, programs that create more government jobs, patronage and pork… What we need to force them to do is give the local taxpayers a break by doing what was supposed to be done with the lotto money.

This is a eye opening statement, is there any question as to why people are leaving this state.

“Soaring property taxes are devastating to our states families and our economy as well,” Spitzer said. “In the past five years, real property taxes have increased 32 percent _ fully three and a half times faster than wages have increased.”

Spitzer pushes property tax cut, aid to municipalities

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Eliot Spitzer pushed a $6 billion property tax cut aimed at middle class families and aid to subsidize revenue-drained municipalities and school districts that impose those taxes.

The tax break announced Tuesday, expanding the states STAR school tax subsidy program, would result in a typical savings for an average middle class taxpayer of $763 in Suffolk County, $558 in Onondaga County, $421 in Erie County and $497 in Albany County, Spitzer said.

The tax breaks would decrease for upstate households making $60,000 a year or above and for downstate households making more than $80,000.

“Soaring property taxes are devastating to our states families and our economy as well,” Spitzer said. “In the past five years, real property taxes have increased 32 percent _ fully three and a half times faster than wages have increased.”

Spitzer called for a $1.5 billion subsidy for property tax relief in the fiscal year beginning April 1, $2 billion in 2008-09 and $2.5 billion in 2009-10.

The Democrats latest announcement of a critical piece of his 2007-08 state budget proposal due Wednesday follows through on a major campaign promise. Spitzer said state government for more than a decade has forced more “unfunded mandates” on local governments and school districts that have in turn forced higher taxes on their residents.

“The days when New York balanced its budget on the backs of its counties, cities, towns and villages are over,” Spitzer told the New York State Association of Counties. “We can make this a turning point for New York: The point when we stop avoiding hard choices and start restoring hope, opportunity and prosperity to the people of our state.”

Spitzer also called for changes in state mandates on local governments and schools that drive up operating costs and the cost of construction.

A key to affording the tax break subsidized by Albany are Spitzers other key budget plans: To cut billions of dollars in health care costs and to force fiscal reforms on schools to better spend state aid and local tax dollars.

Spitzer will make his full budget proposal to the Legislature Wednesday. He and legislative leaders will then try to agree on a budget by the April 1 start of the fiscal year. The current budget totals more than $115 billion.