POUGHKEEPSIE – The state legislature this summer did little to hold the line on expenses, the president of the Business Council of New York State told Dutchess business people Wednesday.

Kenneth Adams told members of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie the state should follow their “Five to Survive” plan.

“In a very weak, fragile New York State economy, the state legislature failed to rein in spending and get these things under control, so that’s how we started the campaign; it certainly has gained traction ever since, although again, once the budget was resolved in August, we really began our new theme which is promoting long term reform for the state budget process and reforms for the economy and that’s our ‘Five to Survive’ agenda, our five point plan for economic reform in the state.”

That plan calls for capping property taxes; capping state spending; reducing the tax burden; prohibiting government borrowing to pay operating expenses; and reforming public employee pensions.