George E. Pataki
PER
George E. Pataki Pataki
Gov. George E. Pataki and his budget director said in interviews on Thursday that they had reservations about the two central initiatives of the Legislature's budget, calling a nearly $1.8 billion property tax cut package unconstitutional and saying a bonding deal for New York City schools would set a bad precedent in the use of state debt. Mr. Pataki echoed concerns, saying that although he supported giving the city that amount of school construction aid, they just have to look at the technical structure of it to make sure it's appropriate, that it doesn't jeopardize the state's credit or in any way violate or run afoul of our historic debt-reform legislation they passed a few years back. Legislative leaders and their top aides, who have been particularly critical of John F. Cape, said the state had devised similar state bond deals recently.