Westfair Online - TEA rally steeps with discontent

Home

HV Biz

TEA rally steeps with discontent

Kathy Kahn

Jul-10-09, 04:16 PM

2 Votes

Topics: Taxes

July 6 found hundreds of residents again gathered at Dutchess County Stadium to protest Albany’s malaise and seeming uncaring attitude when it comes to solving the real property tax crisis.

The MTA mobility tax of 34 cents per $100 earned has proved notably unpopular in the region as fewer benefit from MTA service than in more New York City-centric locales.

Putnam Legislator Dan Birmingham, R/C-Brewster, told HV Biz the Legislature intended to pass a resolution refusing to pay the retroactive portion of the MTA tax, which was instituted as of March 1, and is now about to be billed to every business in the MTA’s 12-county service area.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Birmingham. “We have to let Albany know that the counties north of Westchester don’t have the money to pay 34 cents on every hundred dollars of payroll. All you need do is look at the number of nonprofits that we, as community bedroom for New York City, are providing to our residents. Hospitals, nursing homes, social service agencies … none are exempt from this burden. Even the exemption for the school districts is questionable at best.

“For every dollar the MTA collects in mobility tax, it means a job lost or not created here in the Hudson Valley, where the median income is much lower than the counties that benefit the most from MTA’s services and improvements,” Birmingham said. “We are already paying into it, and commuters are already paying a higher fare, which will go even higher for less service. It’s time for the MTA to be held accountable for its inability and instability and not push their problems off on the strained budget of our local businesses.” More than 90 percent of businesses in the “quarter-pounder” counties have 50 or fewer employees.

Organizers are planning more TEA parties and expect the next to draw many as 5,000, the number of disgruntled taxpayers who reportedly attended the first TEA party two months ago.

See Valley Vines for additional coverage of the July 6 event.

0 Comments

Add Comment

Articles by This Author

Kathy Kahn

Executives wrestle with finances

Jun-15-08, 07:00 PM

In a room full of county executives, it fell to the nun to frame the debate about mandates and taxes in terms that rang true on a personal level.

Umbrella closes itself in gusts

Inventor takes idea on the road

May-25-08, 07:00 PM

Just in time for summer, Marty Hathaway has taken on one of the storied gremlins of beach and patio disruptions – the wind – via a windproof umbrella.

Beacon’s golden moment

Riverfront city makes waves

Jan-13-08, 07:00 PM

Steve Gold takes over Gould's seat as mayor and lays out a comprehensive master plan for Beacon

50 years for RCC

Aug-21-09, 12:59 PM

Rockland Community College celebrates its 50th anniversary

Schools losing sacred-cow status

Feb-19-10, 01:27 PM

Can the school system be saved? Albany is out of money and taxpayers are short on patience.

New economic development chief awaits confirmation

Jul-02-09, 12:42 PM

The state will get a new economic development chief. The previous one lasted less than a year.

Beacon beckons

Jul-13-08, 07:00 PM

Beacon is making a comeback; once rundown, citizens are building Beacon back up.

Rick Alfandre: What’s the buzz?

Oct-13-09, 09:38 AM

Architect keeps business buzzing at office and home.

Eat, drink and save money

Jan-15-10, 12:19 PM

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is back.

Closures, budget cuts mark twilight of ’08

Nov-09-08, 07:00 PM

While Gov. David Paterson was in Washington, D.C., asking for stimulus programs to help New York meet its increasing deficit, Anthony Campagiorni, executive director of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp., ticked off a few of the companies that have left or are in the process of leaving the region, including Durasol Awnings in Orange County and Columbia County’s Kaz Inc., makers of humidifiers, dehumidifiers and the like and Columbia’s largest private employer.

Leaders offer business forecasts

Dec-30-09, 12:03 PM

HV Biz asked a broad sampling of valley leaders to assess the year ahead.

Cloud with a silicon lining

Mar-04-10, 12:20 PM

Orange County Business Accelerator works to attract high-tech performers.

An inspiring evening

Aug-03-09, 10:03 AM

Faces and Places features photos from the latest events in the region. Click on a photo to expand and read description of who is who.

Transportation solutions elusive

Mar-23-08, 07:00 PM

The third annual Hudson Valley Economic Summit meeting focused on transportation.

Grand makeover

Feb-24-08, 07:00 PM

Changes are coming to Joe Bonura’s 10-story hotel

A desire for success

Mechanic could teach a class on drive

Apr-19-09, 07:00 PM

Back in 1980, 25 year old Joe Marconi bought a shuttered garage in Mahopac and put his life-long mechanical skills to work.

Community banks prosper

Neighborliness translates to good loans

Aug-17-08, 07:00 PM

The state coffers may be floundering, but one Hudson Valley community bank is in the black – and intends to stay there – while another just earned its ninth consecutive top honors from a national bank-ranking company.

Name:	*
Username:	*
Email:	*
Password:	*
Verify Password:	*
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.