SENATE UNVEILS "JOBS-NY" JOB CREATION PLAN

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) and his colleagues in the New York State Senate recently announced the Senatepassed legislation to implement the 2012 NEW JOBS-NY Job Creation Plan. The Senate's comprehensive plan will help create thousands of new private sector jobs by delivering tax relief to small businesses and manufacturers, reducing energy costs, and enacting major fiscal reforms to make New York State more economically competitive.

Senate Republicans first approved a small business tax cut plan as part of its budget resolution in early March. However, the tax cuts were not included in the enacted 2012-13 state budget.

Among the highlights of the Senate Republican's NEW JOBS-NY plan, which is supported by statewide business organizations, including the Business Council of New York, Unshackle Upstate and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, are the following:

* Eliminating Taxes on New York Manufacturers: The plan would spur creation of thousands of manufacturing jobs by eliminating income taxes paid by manufacturers over a three year period ($495 million in tax relief).

* 20 percent Corporate Tax Cut for Small Businesses: This cut in the corporate tax rate will save nearly 200,000 small businesses $49 million.

* 10 percent Personal Income Tax Credit for Small Businesses: This tax cut would save 800,000 small businesses $80 million.

* Major Energy Tax Cut: The legislation accelerates the phase-out of the 500 percent energy tax hike Senate Democrats previously approved.

* New Incentives for Each New Job Created: The bill includes new job-creating incentives that would give businesses a tax credit of up to $5,000 for each new job they create; up to an $8,000 credit if the new job goes to someone on unemployment; up to a $10,000 credit if a business hires a returning military veteran.

* Help for New York's Small Brewers: The plan includes a new Production Credit and Label Registration Credit for New York's vibrant craft brewing industry.

* Fiscal Reforms to Improve New York's Business Climate: The plan includes a two percent state spending cap; a super-majority vote provision to make any future tax increases more difficult; and new regulatory reforms to reduce red tape for businesses.

Over the past year and a half, the Senate Majority has successfully taken a number of key steps to improve New York's business climate to help create jobs:

* Passing two consecutive on-time state budgets;

* Closing approximately $13 billion budget deficits -- without raising taxes or fees in the budget;

* Reducing state spending for two consecutive years;

* Cutting taxes on small businesses;

* Enacting a landmark property tax cap;

* Approving the UB2020/SUNY 2020 economic development plan;

* Repealing the MTA payroll tax for 80 percent of the business that paid it;

* Enacting the Recharge-NY power-for-jobs plan and the Power-NY (Article X) power plant siting law;

* Cutting taxes for middle class families and reducing tax rates to the lowest level in more than half a century; and

* Helping to launch the NY-Works initiative to revitalize New York's infrastructure.