State and national budget cuts
Governor Paterson's plans for 2011
By White, Brandy
Last Updated:3:47 PM EST 2/24/10 Section: News
New York Governor David Paterson released his Executive Budget Plan for the 2010-2011 fiscal year on Tuesday Jan. 19. If passed, the budget will decrease college aid by 5 percent , increase cigarette taxes by $1 and levy a tax of $1.28 on bottles of unhealthy drinks and or powdered soft drinks.
The total budget for the 2010-11 year is $134 billion with a $7.4 deficit, bringing a 0.6 percent increase from last years budget of $133.2 billion.
NY Daily News says that he is proposing a new cigarette tax of an increase of $1 per pack making the tax $3.75 instead of $2.75, with a total savings of $200 million.
This has been a steady increase over the years. In 2001, the New York State tax on a pack of cigarettes was $1.11 and by 2002 went up to $1.50.
Chris Vincelli, a Communication/Journalism major is upset about the extra dollar. "They've just been raised," he says. "They're higher than all the other states already. "
"It is a good thing. I think smoking is bad for people and the people around them," said junior Michelle Beeman.
Freshman Cara Accorso shared the same opinion and said , "I think it should be increased because smoking is bad for you."
To go along with the cigarette tax is the levying of unhealthy beverages. Paterson proposes a tax on beverage syrups and soft drinks at a total of $7.68 per gallon of beverage syrups or simple syrups and $1.28 per gallon of bottles or powdered soft drinks, saving a total of $450 million.
"I know these drinks are bad for you, but it's everyone's own choice to drink them," said Kelly Hazzard, a Childhood Education major.
Junior Courtney Betar thinks "its ridiculous," she said. "There are already so many taxes." She also noted that she is not affected by it because she does not drink a lot of them.
Sophomore Mattieu Schwert thinks similarly on the topic and says, "It won't affect me," he says. "It's just another way for the state to make money."
"In a way it's a good thing because it encourages people to drink more water," Jessica Gasbarre says. "On the other hand is it really necessary?"
The total budget for the 2010-11 year is $134 billion with a $7.4 deficit, bringing a 0.6 percent increase from last years budget of $133.2 billion.
NY Daily News says that he is proposing a new cigarette tax of an increase of $1 per pack making the tax $3.75 instead of $2.75, with a total savings of $200 million.
This has been a steady increase over the years. In 2001, the New York State tax on a pack of cigarettes was $1.11 and by 2002 went up to $1.50.
Chris Vincelli, a Communication/Journalism major is upset about the extra dollar. "They've just been raised," he says. "They're higher than all the other states already. "
"It is a good thing. I think smoking is bad for people and the people around them," said junior Michelle Beeman.
Freshman Cara Accorso shared the same opinion and said , "I think it should be increased because smoking is bad for you."
To go along with the cigarette tax is the levying of unhealthy beverages. Paterson proposes a tax on beverage syrups and soft drinks at a total of $7.68 per gallon of beverage syrups or simple syrups and $1.28 per gallon of bottles or powdered soft drinks, saving a total of $450 million.
"I know these drinks are bad for you, but it's everyone's own choice to drink them," said Kelly Hazzard, a Childhood Education major.
Junior Courtney Betar thinks "its ridiculous," she said. "There are already so many taxes." She also noted that she is not affected by it because she does not drink a lot of them.
Sophomore Mattieu Schwert thinks similarly on the topic and says, "It won't affect me," he says. "It's just another way for the state to make money."
"In a way it's a good thing because it encourages people to drink more water," Jessica Gasbarre says. "On the other hand is it really necessary?"
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