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Spitzer should hold a cap on state spending Dear Editor: Although I agree with Gov. Spitzer's plan to turn over the state's lottery system to a private operator, I disagree with his recommendation to increase state spending by billions of dollars at a time when middle income taxpayers are calling for property tax relief. Since Albany expects to receive $2 billion to $3 billion from HIP/GHI converting into a new for-profit corporation as Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield recently did, rather than using this windfall from the initial sale of HIP/GHI stock to increase state spending, Albany should use this money to increase the size of the current STAR rebate program to reduce the heavy burden of school property taxes on middle income taxpayers. Like Gov. Spitzer's recommendation that any monies realized from his plan to privatize the state lottery system be used to create an endowment to support public schools and the state and city university systems, any money realized from the sale of HIP/GHI stock should also be placed in a taxpayer's "endowment" fund dedicated to increasing the size of future STAR rebates. This would not only provide needed property tax relief to middle income homeowners, but could also help cushion the potential impact on senior citizens of the recent EEOC's decision to allow employers to shift more of the cost of health insurance to individual retirees once they reach the age of 65. Jack Coughlin, former president
Deer Park Board of Education
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