'Spend-O-Meter' on Web site shows rate of state spending

TIMES ALBANY BUREAU

ALBANY — Every second between now and March 31, New York will spend $3,859. This, according to the Empire Center for New York State Policy, is the result of the $121.7 billion state budget enacted April 9.

The center portrays state spending through its "Spend-O-Meter," an online, odometer-like counter calibrated to the state budget for fiscal year 2008-09.

"Under this year's budget, our state government will spend more every hour than 200 typical New York families earn in a year," said E.J. McMahon, the center's director. "The Spend-O-Meter is spinning at its fastest rate ever, even though economic growth is slowing."

The meter advances at the following rate:

■ $3,859 per second.

■ $231,545 per minute.

■ $13,892,694 per hour.

■ $333,424,658 per day.

■ $2,340,384,615 per week.

■ $10,141,666,667 per month.

The Empire Center is a project of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, which bills itself as "one of the nation's leading nonprofit, non-partisan think tanks." The Spend-O-Meter may be viewed online at www.empirecenter.org.