Dec 21 2008
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation Slams Governor Patterson’s Budget Proposal
New York Governor David Patterson has released his proposed budget for 2009 and it eliminates the 3 million dollar program that has been going to the matching funds of The New York Wine & Grape Foundation. They are famous for the slogan, “Uncork New York,”
This organization was formed to assist the NYS wine & grape industry with product research, advertising, and marketing support programs of various types. Jim Trezise of the foundation says that this cut if it were to pass into legislation would likely be the death knell for the foundation as they do not have enough independent support to maintain their operation.
The Wine & Grape foundation is compared with the Apple Growers foundation which evidently does have enough private support to maintain their programs. Along with these cuts the governor proposes to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores and in almost tripling the existing sin tax for all wine sales, but not for hard spirits sales.
As described, this will be a blow to all New York Wineries. If you would like to read the lengthy report of Mr. Trezise you may do so in the current issue of the “Wine Press” newsletter at the foundation’s website http://newyorkwines.org.
As stated these proposals, among many others are just the initial concept of how the governor wants to address the 15 billion dollar NYS deficit. They are not law yet.
