State deficit worse than originally thought

ALBANY - A decline in tax revenues in a slowing economy will result in a $4.3 billion budget deficit, $651 million worse than projected in July, according to a budget report issued Tuesday.

Soon after the budget report was issued, Spitzer's transportation commissioner proposed $175.2 billion in borrowing over 20 years for repair and replacement of bridges, highways, rail and air facilities statewide.

That would be $100 billion more than already planned and would include major work on the Tappan Zee Bridge/Interstate 287 corridor, expanding or replacing the Peace Bridge in Buffalo to Canada, completing the I-86 highway across the Southern Tier, and expanding Route 219 in Erie and Cattaraugus counties, according to state Transportation Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn.