Senate Bill S203

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S203

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to repeal the Metropolitan Commuter
Transportation Mobility Tax.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. repeals article 23 of the tax law known as the Metropolitan
Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax

Section 2. provides that the commissioner of taxation and finance shall
review and recommend any additional sections of law relating to article
23 of the tax law that should be repealed to comply with this act.

Section 3. Is the enacting clause.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The proposed increase in the MTA Mobility Tax will impose an enormous
              

financial burden on residents and businesses, estimated to raise taxes
by $800 million. The MTA has a history of failing to meet customer
expectations despite continually requesting additional funding. The
proposed increase in the MTA Mobility Tax is just another instance of
the MTA seeking additional revenue without addressing underlying service
and operational issues.

Further, the MTA received a significant amount of federal COVID-19 aid
in 2022, with more than $16 billion in total. This funding was intended
to balance its budget for the next four years. As such, there is no
justification for imposing an additional tax on residents and busi-
nesses.

The focus should be on improving accountability and efficiency within
MTA operations to better serve its customers. Addressing fundamental
issues such as these is crucial to the long-term stability and success
of the MTA.

Repealing the MTA Mobility Tax will provide relief to residents and
businesses, and will help ensure that the transportation needs of the
region's residents and businesses are met while encouraging greater
accountability and efficiency within MTA operations.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect two hundred seventy days after it shall have
become law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal
of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or
before such effective date.