Gov. David Paterson has been making the rounds of the Democratic and Republican conferences in the Assembly and Senate in an effort to “try to move this budget process along. April 1 is not that far away,” he said after emerging from a meeting with Senate Republicans this afternoon.

   Paterson said he would circulate among legislative leaders a proposal to set up an independent control board that would review whether the budget that is passed is in line with the state’s fiscal situation. If it was not, the governor would be granted the power to have the authority to make a final decision on the budget. Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch proposed the idea.

   “Over a number of years, we have had deficits that have arisen from budgets that did not create the revenues for the type of spending that they have,” Paterson said.

   “I think that what we’re moving toward in this state is a shift in which there will be a final decider. I think this whole idea that you can govern by committee is just not working where fiscal management is concerned,” the governor said.

   Asked about Ravitch’s multi-year plan to borrow money to help the state’s fiscal situation, Paterson said he wouldn’t allow any borrowing unless it was accompanied by some restrictions on spending. As for the 2010-11 budget,  ”I don’t know if we should be borrowing at all,” he said.

   Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, said his biggest concern with Ravitch’s proposal is that the state would be borrowing for everyday expenses. Ravitch is going to brief Senate Republicans on his proposal tomorrow, Skelos said.

   “We have a spending problem in New York state, and as the governor mentioned, and there’s an opportunity right now that shouldn’t be wasted by borrowing to get us by another year,” Skelos said, adding that Medicaid reform and consolidation of agencies are two ideas for saving the state money.

   Skelos said his conference is concerned about the budget process because leaders are not following the requirements under the Budget Reform Act. The governor submitted his budget plan, and it’s imperative that the Senate and Assembly Democratic majorities set up a joint conference-committee process so lawmakers can negotiate on specific aspects of the budget. If there’s no agreement between the two houses on a budget, the Assembly and Senate should issue their budget proposals, he said.