I have questions about NYS finances and how the state disperses some 
of its cash.

During the Pataki administration, the Governor made several 
well-publicized trips to the Adirondacks which involved his 
announcing major grants to local institutions.  For example, he made 
at least two, multi-million dollar grants (I'm not sure that is the 
right word, hence this query) that were instrumental in advancing the 
progress of the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, now known 
as the Wild Center, in Tupper Lake.

Two basic questions: first, what exactly are the terms of such 
grants?  I.e., does the Governor have discretionary funds that he can 
dole out as he sees fit?  (Just last month he did something similar, 
giving $1 million to the Adirondack Museum for its proposed branch 
campus in Lake Placid.) Or are such grants always run through the 
legislature?  I think the total he was responsible for transferring 
to the Wild Center approached the vicinity of $14 million.

Second, does anyone know of where I might find a complete list of all 
such items during the Pataki years?  I'm not looking for every 
bridge, firehouse, basketball league, etc, funded by legislators, 
just those for which the Governor took personal credit, as he did 
whenever he was handing out checks in the Adirondacks.

Thanks,
phil

-- 
Philip G. Terrie
Interim Director, Center for Environmental Programs
Professor, American Culture Studies
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
(419) 372-6886 (voice)
(419) 372-7243 (fax)