Metro

Cuomo budget decree near

Andrew Cuomo is about to weigh in on the seemingly intractable bitter state budget battle between Gov. Paterson and the Legislature, and he will tell Democratic lawmakers, who are nervously eyeing the November elections, what he wants them to do, The Post has learned.

The attorney general, days from being named the Democratic candidate for governor and under fire for not taking a budget stand, will also announce a position on Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s idea to borrow $2 billion a year for the next three years to fund day-to-day state operations.

While Cuomo has repeatedly urged cutbacks in spending and even opposed Paterson’s record-high budget last year as unaffordable, he has so far refused to tell even his closest associates his position on the budget.

Cuomo watchers predict, however, that he will back Paterson’s call for more spending cuts and oppose Ravitch’s proposal.

“Andrew will not attempt to micromanage the budget, because there can only be one governor at a time,” said a source close to Cuomo.

“But he is going to offer his opinion on the main points in the budget dispute, and this could be impactful on legislators running for re-election, who will now have his opinion to consider in their deliberations.”

Cuomo’s positions may be a test of loyalty for Democratic lawmakers, who want to be on the good side of the man polls show is the overwhelming favorite to win the November election.

It could also force them to chose between Cuomo and their leaders: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Conference head John Sampson, both of whom are resisting Paterson’s cuts.

“Andrew wants to start out early lining up support for his budget reform agenda, and this will be an early test of who is with him and who is not,” said a Capitol observer.

fredric.dicker@nypost.com