Katz Announces Fiscal Emergency, Wants to Restore Fiscal Responsibility Through 9-Point Plan

Steve Katz, of Mohegan Lake, is running for the 99th Assembly District seat and will challenging Jim Borkowski in the Republican Primary to face off Democrat Brendan Tully. 

On Tuesday, August 3, Katz held a press conference on the steps of the Putnam County Court House in Carmel, and declared a fiscal emergency of the state. He also outlined his plan to restore fiscal responsibility in Albany this week.

The press conference was held hours before a deal was reached on a state budget, which will increase spending by 7.6 percent over the previous budget. 

"The budget process is a disgrace and members of the legislature need to be held accountable," Katz said. 

His campaign released the 9-Point Plan To Restore Fiscal Responsibility to Albany. Here it is. 

• Freeze the budget at 2009 level- Anything past that year is piling on because the state received a one time shot of Obama stimulus, which didn't do anything. We need the budget to go back to its pre-stimulus level, which artificially increased revenues for the state enabling funding for unsustainable budget programs. "Going forward the taxpayers on all local levels will have to shoulder the burden – this is unacceptable."
• Change the tax to prevent political manipulation- "I am advocating a flat tax and New York should lead the way in a simple tax levy that the tax paying members of the state can understand and properly prepare for each year. This will attract new business to the state resulting in increased revenue." Example: First $40k of income will have no tax, but all income thereafter will be taxed at 17 percent.
• Gubernatorial line item veto- "We need to hold the governor's feet to the fire for responsible governance and realistic budget allocation. We need the governor to answer for every yea or nay and make it clear to every voter through posting on the Internet each line approved or vetoed."
• Balanced budget- "We all as businesspeople and heads of families need to balance budgets to survive; it should be no different for the State." Income needs to be balanced with outflows. "We should not be funding deficits with more borrowing, which mortgages our future – ultimately we have to pay the piper."
• Pay plan for any new spending- no new items requiring new spending will ever be considered unless explicit plan for how the state will fund it. 
• Two thirds majority vote for any tax hikes- looking for bi-partisan support for any new burden placed upon the taxpayers of New York. "There better be darn good reasons for any tax hikes."
• Abolish all unfunded mandates- "Unfunded mandates are nothing more than Albany demanding each town to do something whether they have the money to pay for it or not." Examples: special education; no child left behind.
• Abolish off budget authorities, agencies and commissions- "New York is worse than Enron with commissions, agencies and authorities receiving tax payer funding, but not being counted in the budget process. I am calling for an independent audit of the budget when it final is completed – redundancies and off budget items need to be removed."
• "I agree with penalize legislators for over drafted and late budget as is now the law."

"The goal with all of my points is transparency of government," Katz said.

The 99th NYS Assembly district comprises the towns of Yorktown, Somers, North Salem, Southeast, Carmel, Patterson and Pawling.  

The primary election will be held on September 14. The general election will be held on November 2.