12-2-09: Courtesy of WIVB. New York State goes from drowning in debt to gasping for air. The budget vote breathes some life into a desperate financial situation. Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz said, “We’re fine for 2009. I’m not worried about the remainder of this month, but I am worried starting in the middle of January through February. If they stop payment to local governments we could have problems.” The governor had wanted a 4.5 percent mid-year cut in school aid, which didn’t happen.