Issues: Taxes

Surcharge set to expire March 2014
Executive budget calls for 5-year extension
Businesses, consumers to pay $3 billion more in taxes

Albany, N.Y. – State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer (R, C, I – Amherst) has announced his opposition to a five-year extension of the 18-a surcharge as proposed in the Executive Budget.  The energy tax surcharge is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2014.  

High utility costs remain an obstacle to economic growth and job creation

ALBANY - Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean) joined Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, members of the Senate Republican Conference and leaders of statewide business organizations to urge Governor Cuomo to remove the proposed extension of the utility tax surcharge from his Executive Budget. The 18-a surcharge, which has increased utility bills for every ratepayer in the state, is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2014.  The Governor’s proposed five-year extension would cost businesses and consumers a total of almost $3 billion.

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R,C,I – Elma) joined with fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference and leaders of statewide business organizations to urge Governor Cuomo to remove the proposed extension of the utility tax surcharge from his Executive Budget. The 18-a surcharge, which has increased utility bills for every ratepayer in the state,  is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2014.  

“Extending this surcharge will cost ratepayers almost $3 billion. Small businesses, working families and seniors, all struggling to keep up with high energy costs, cannot afford this burdensome utility tax any longer,” said Senator Gallivan. “Allowing the 18-a assessment surcharge to expire will also help to create jobs and make New York more economically competitive.”

New York State School Tax Relief Program Deadline is March 1st

State Senator Patty Ritchie is reminding homeowners in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties that the deadline for New York State’s School Tax Relief Program—or STAR—is March 1, 2013.

STAR is a tax relief program that lowers property taxes for owner-occupied primary residences.  There are two types of benefits, Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR.

ALBANY, N.Y. – Seeking new and effective ways to spur job creation and address perennially high unemployment rates amongst New York’s returning combat veterans, Independent Democratic Conference Leader and Senate Co-Leader Jeffrey D. Klein, alongside fellow IDC member Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland), Republican Senator Greg Ball (R-Putnam) and a bipartisan group of Senators from across New York, introduced legislation today to provide major tax credits to private employers hiring veterans discharged after 9/11. The legislation is named “Jobs for Heroes.”

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled the proposed 2013-14Executive Budget and Management Plan that builds on two years of balanced, fiscally responsible budgeting and invests in economic development, education reform, rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy, provides support to local governments and school districts, and includes no new taxes or fees.

Highlights of the Executive Budget:

· Eliminates $1.3 billion budget gap with no new taxes or fees. The expected gap for 2013-14 was projected to be $17.4 billion prior to the last two responsible budgets.

· Holds spending increases below 2 percent for third consecutive year.