The 2008-09 state budget proposed today by Governor Spitzer included:

OVERALL SIZE:

— $124.3 billion is the estimate from Mr. Spitzer’s budget division.

STATE SPENDING ALONE:

— The “state operating funds,” which some analysts consider a better measure of state spending, is estimated to be $81.8 billion — a 5% increase from $77.9 billion in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

ADDED SPENDING:

Mr. Spitzer proposed investing an additional $1.46 billion in schools, tying large portions of funding to “Contracts for Excellence” to ensure the resources improve academic achievement. Mr. Spitzer also calls for a $1.2 billion increase in Medicaid spending and a $1 billion investment in the state economy.

ADDED REVENUES:

— Mr. Spitzer says his plan would save $2.3 billion along with efforts to increase revenues by $1.1 billion. The governor would pay for spending increases by saving $1.35 billion through streamlining government efficiency. This would include closing underused facilities, cutting 5% of non-personnel services and lowering energy costs, among other changes. Another change would find $980 million in health care savings by changing methods of reimbursing health care providers. It’s part of an initiative to promote primary and preventive care over long-term and emergency room care.

HEALTH CARE:

— Mr. Spitzer wants to expand health care to the 400,000 children in New York who aren’t covered, which will add $37 million to the budget. Medicaid spending will increase 2.7% to $46.3 billion under his plan. Mr. Spitzer wants to pay for those cuts by hiring 75 additional employees to help prevent fraud. Combined with new technologies, Mr. Spitzer expects this to save the state $590 million — $160 million more than was anticipated in last year’s budget. The governor is also eyeing $172 million in savings by controlling the cost of prescription drugs. Altogether, he wants $980 million in health savings.

TAX CUTS:

—The governor wants to create a commission to come up with a property tax cap proposal. New Yorkers will also get $4.8 billion in tax rebates through the state’s School Tax Relief program, with more than $1 billion of that directed to middle class homeowners. Seniors will get a 40% increase in their rebate, increasing their average property tax relief to $1,700. Mr. Spitzer delayed a 17% increase in the basic middle class STAR rebate for at least a year to save money. Eligible homeowners would have received an extra $65 if the increase went through. A New York City resident with income more than $250,000 could also expect to see a reduction in their STAR credit.

SCHOOLS:

— Mr. Spitzer proposes increasing spending on school aid by 7.4% to $21 billion. School aid is now distributed on a “foundation” formula based on school districts’ need, rather than broken down under a longtime political deal based on the share of state enrollment in different regions. New York City schools and other districts will get less than they expected, particularly on Long Island, where schools will see an annual increase in aid of about 8% rather than the 12% they expected.

HIGHER ED:

— Mr. Spitzer proposed a higher education endowment fund to help pay for state colleges and universities. He wants to leverage the state lottery system to pay for it. Tuition at the State University of New York and the City University of New York will not increase this year. SUNY and CUNY would have to improve efficiency and cut spending, which should achieve $50.9 million in savings for the state. Under Mr. Spitzer’s plan, SUNY would receive $3.41 billion for its operating budget, an increase of 1.2%. CUNY would get $1.7 billion, a 3.2% increase.

The executive budget would also cut base operating aid for community colleges by $50 a student — to $2,625 from $2,675. State aid for SUNY’s 30 community colleges will total $451.1 million — a $77,000 net decrease. CUNY’s six community colleges would get $174.5 million — a $1.7 million increase.

The budget proposal would also reduce state aid to independent colleges and universities by 2.5%, or $1.05 million. That would leave the so-called Bundy Aid program with $41 million in the 2008-2009 school year.

NEW DEFINITIONS:

— The budget proposal would also reclassify certain malt liquor drinks so they would be taxed at the “low liquor” rate instead of the beer rate. Mr. Spitzer expects the change to generate $15 million in 2008-2009. Little cigars would also be shifted into a new category. The little cigars would be taxed as cigarettes, which is expected to generate $3.6 million more.