It's Not Just Wealthy Conservatives Who Are Fleeing New York

It appears Rush Limbaugh has started a trend. A couple of months ago the radio host noted he had fled New York because of onerous taxation, and the accidental governor was happy to hear the news. Well, now one of the the state's wealthiest men is also hitting the road.

New York billionaire Tom Golisano is taking his big bucks elsewhere.

Furious over a new "millionaire's tax" that could cost him an extra $1 million this year, the Rochester-area resident and three-time gubernatorial candidate says he's fleeing the state for Florida's Gulf Coast.

Golisano called it a "quick decision" to switch his legal address to his $13 million waterfront mansion in Naples, Fla., after Gov. Paterson and lawmakers agreed to a record-breaking $4 billion income-tax hike last month.

"This budget and this increase in the level of taxation are really going to push a lot more people out of the state," Golisano told a gathering of Rochester business executives Thursday, according to The Buffalo News.

With an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, Golisano is easily one of upstate's richest residents.

The millionaire's tax -- which hiked the income tax rate to 8.97 percent from 6.85 percent on those making over $500,000 a year -- would force Golisano to pay $13,000 a day in state income taxes. That's $4.7 million a year, up from $3.6 million.

Florida has no state income tax.

To officially qualify as a tax refugee, the Buffalo Sabres owner will simply have to extend by a month or two his usual winter retreats in the Sunshine State.

He follows conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who predicted he would be the first in a wave of rich to flee the Empire State after state Democrats sealed the $132 billion budget deal.

Naturally, some of the socialists who enjoy life on the taxpayer dole aren't taking the news well.

Working Families Party Executive Director Dan Cantor, who championed the tax hike, called Golisano's move "selfish."

"It's a disgrace that this is how he pays back the state where he was presumably educated and that's been so good to him," Cantor said. "Taxes are the price you pay for civilization. He's moving to a space where there's a little bit less civilization."