ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. David Patterson is recommending that his previous wine-at-grocery executive budget proposal, which would bring in an estimated $92 million to the state in the form of franchise fees, be amended to increase the required franchise fee for retailers with gross sales of over $1 million.
The change would produce an additional revenue of $162 million in 2010-2011. Overall, the franchise fee would generate a total of $300 million over the next two years ($250 million in 2010-2011 and $50 million in 2011-2012).
The money would be dedicated to financing rising Medicaid costs and preventing deeper cuts to health care programs.
Proposals for a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase, and a penny per ounce tax on sugared beverages linked to obesity, remain unchanged.
Read More of Today's Headlines