ALBANY — Gov. Paterson took action yesterday on the state’s widening multibillion-dollar budget deficit, ordering agencies to trim $500 million in non-workforce spending during the remaining six months of the fiscal year.
The governor wants an 11 percent reduction in spending on such items as travel, equipment and consultants. The cuts represent a reduction of about 25 percent of the low end of Paterson’s deficit projection of between $2.1 billion and $3.5 billion for the fiscal year ending next March 31.
Among the hardest hit state agencies was the State University of New York, ordered to cut back $90 million; the Correctional Services Department, $69 million; Health Department, $37 million; and the Transportation Department, $30 million.
Paterson said he’d also seek to reduce City University spending by $30 million, although that cut requires approval by the Legislature.
“While agencies have already taken significant action to reduce spending since I took office, further cuts are necessary given the state’s persistent fiscal difficulties,” Paterson said.
Paterson’s action came a day after The Post disclosed the existence of a serious rift between the governor and Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch over Ravitch’s growing frustration with the governor’s failure to outline a strong deficit reduction plan.
Ravitch, in a statement, called Paterson’s action “one part of our overall plan to address our economic crisis.”
Legislative leaders have repeatedly criticized Paterson in recent weeks for refusing to propose sweeping spending cuts while publicly urging them to outline plans to reduce state expenditures. Administration insiders contend that the governor, who has record low numbers in public opinion polls and is eyeing an election race next year, is trying to avoid the blame for politically unpopular spending cuts.
Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue blasted Paterson’s cutbacks as “poor management and bad public policy.”
“Executive branch operations account for less than 10 percent of the total state budget, yet this is the only area the governor continues to target for cuts,” Donohue, who heads the state’s largest public employees union, continued.
United University Professions President Phillip Smith claimed the SUNY cuts would cause “irreparable harm” to the university system.