STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN PULVER IN RESPONSE TO GOV. HOCHUL’S EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL
Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver issued the following statement in response to Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget Proposal that would increase the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax:
“Since the enactment of the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax, Dutchess County has been forced to pay millions of dollars annually to offset their crippling budget shortfalls, despite not having the same service or ridership rates as that of downstate, NYC, and Long Island. New York State has a history of treating the Hudson Valley as an ATM, and under the budget proposal from Governor Hochul that would increase the payroll tax from 0.34% to 0.5%, local governments and small businesses in Dutchess County will once again be forced to find a way to help solve their budget crisis. At a time where small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, New York State needs to be focused on offering real solutions, not increasing taxes – especially for businesses that do not rely on the MTA. With New York, sitting on an almost $9 billion FY 2023 budget surplus, the last thing we should be doing is forcing our local governments and businesses to take money out of their own operating budgets. I urge our State Representatives to push back against this proposal and make it clear that their budget priorities are about strategies that will actually help our local residents and businesses.”
If included in the final budget, Dutchess County Government’s Annual Payroll Mobility Tax would increase from $525,000 to $800,000, creating an increase of $275,000.
