Each Thursday, we put one of our local newsmakers On The Spot. This week: Assemblyman Brian Kolb

This week's question: Citizens and elected officials alike have long complained about flaws in the state budget process. How can the budget be put together more fairly, openly and honestly?

This has been an extraordinary year in New York state government.

As a result of the shake-up in the Executive office, legislative leaders forfeited transparency and accountability in the budget process in an attempt to adopt a budget as quickly as possible. Regardless of the reason, the process was flawed and public input was diminished.

Going forward, simple steps can be taken to improve this dilemma.

We must require that the previous year's budget be temporarily adopted no later than 72 hours after the start of a new fiscal year to ensure an on-time budget. This would buy more time, allow the state to continue operating, but there wouldn't be a rush to get it done which sacrifices openness.

In addition, we should prohibit consideration of non-budget bills after April 1 until the budget is adopted, prohibit legislative recess until adoption and ensure that a plain language summary of the budget is provided 48 hours prior to a vote.

These measures will keep the focus on the budget, but force the process to be more open, give all legislators an equal say and allow a better budget to be adopted.

Let's also not forget that our state debt, which currently costs each New Yorker about $2,797 a year, is the second highest per capita in the nation. This burden is funded by backdoor borrowing, and then passed on to the taxpayers.

We need to get serious about debt reform and ban borrowing without voter approval while requiring that 10 percent of any budget surplus be used to decrease the state debt and revise the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), which issues debt.

I will not give up on my efforts to make the process more transparent and accountable.

It is too late for this year's budget but we must make a concerted effort to improve the process for the years to come.

If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or

e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net