FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     
APRIL 1, 2009

CONTACT: DEBORAH HARRIS
LEGISLATIVE AIDE
    Office: (631) 854-5100
Fax: (631)-854-5103
 Email:  Deborah.Harris@suffolkcountyny.gov

LEGISLATOR STEVE STERN RAILS AGAINST MTA TAX INCREASE

“Regional Mobility Tax” to hit Suffolk Residents

At podium, Legislator Steve Stern
l-r: Legislator Ed Romaine, Legislator Jay Schneiderman, Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher,
Presiding Officer William J. Lindsay, Legislator Dan Losquadro, Legislator Wayne Horsley

HUNTINGTON, NY – Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern (D-Huntington) 16^th LD, joined with other Suffolk lawmakers in strongly condemning the proposed MTA payroll tax, which calls for a 33 cent tax on every $100 of payroll in Suffolk County.  This proposed tax would be levied against private businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, including school districts.  Suffolk County residents already contribute to the MTA through $132.4 million in mortgage taxes, $94 million in payroll taxes, $23.8 million as an operating budget subsidy and other surcharges including a telephone surcharge.

“Although the MTA crisis is certainly real, this tax proposal is simply unjustified and is the wrong way to solve the problem,” Legislator Stern said.  “This tax is just another in a string of taxes Suffolk residents pay to subsidize mass transit that many of them do not use. This tax on Suffolk residents is insulting, unacceptable and could not come at a worse time for struggling Suffolk taxpayers.  I join with my colleagues in urging our State Legislature and Governor Paterson to decisively reject this proposal and seek fair alternatives to address the MTA’s budgetary problems.”