Senate Lawmakers: Tax the Rich to Fund New York Education [State of Politics]

Two New York state senators proposed legislation that would tax high earners in the state slightly more for a limited time in order to avoid major education funding cuts.

The SHARE Act, or the Shared Help Assessment to Rebuild Education Act, would increase the income tax rate for earners of more than $5 million from 8.82 percent to 10.90 percent for 2 years.

The larger portion, 85 percent of the revenue generated from this tax, would go to public schools and 15 percent would be used to help fund SUNY and CUNY schools.

We are in a period of unprecedented fiscal crisis," Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Shelley Mayer said. "And we must ensure that our public schools —the great equalizer of our democracy — are funded adequately. It is a time for shared sacrifice. We cannot allow this terrible virus to threaten the futures of hundreds of thousands of students throughout New York State."