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Paterson: $500M in cuts just a start
From paper clips to key vendor contracts, governor tackles deficit

By CASEY SEILER AND RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau
First published in print: Wednesday, October 7, 2009

ALBANY -- Gov. David Paterson brought out the budget ax Tuesday, ordering $500 million in cuts to state agencies for non-personnel services, which range from paper clips and cars to computer services and software contracts relied on by many agencies.
In an interview, Paterson insisted the cuts were needed in response to what he believes will be a $3 billion budget deficit for the current fiscal year. He hoped to show the Legislature he is willing to advance even more politically perilous cuts.
"We've gotten to the point now where we've got to make changes, and we're going to have to absorb these reductions so as not to restrict out credit rating or threaten the financial balance of our state," Paterson said in an interview at the governor's mansion.

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