Nick Reisman reports in the Poughkeepsie Journal - ” There is not much in the completed state budget for businesses to be happy about.

Business groups charge that the $136.5 billion budget includes new fees and reduced tax credits that will continue to stagnate job growth in the private sector.

They also complain about what wasn’t adopted — making permanent a program that reduces energy costs and any form of property-tax relief.

Ken Pokalsky, director of government affairs for Business Council of New York State, fears the $1.5 billion in new taxes will hasten the exodus of jobs out of the state.

“As every state is scrambling and trying to recover, this is really unprecedented state-level policy,” he said. “We don’t see other states taking these measures.”

Then there’s the elimination of the Empire Zone economic-development program, which provided tax credits to businesses in exchange for job creation.”

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