Casey Seiler is reporting in the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's executive budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins in April holds the growth in state spending below the 2 percent mark that has stood as his benchmark for past budgets. Under the plan, growth in state operating funds spending would be held to 1.7 percent. Growth in all funds spending, which includes federal dollars that flow to the state, would be held to just 1.3 percent. The budget presented Tues., Jan. 21, includes cuts in spending for a number of state agencies including the Department of Health and the Department of Labor. The costliest item in the list of tax reform proposals is the $400 million property tax freeze, which would benefit taxpayers in localities that keep their own budgets within the rate of inflation. Read the full story in the Times Union.