Senator Zeldin Secures Repeal in MTA Payroll Tax

“Today is the start of the much anticipated repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax. This is a huge victory for my constituents, the taxpayers of the Third Senate District.

As a result of the agreement between the Legislature and the Governor, 78.2 percent of all employers (over 700,000 taxpayers) will see a total elimination of the tax. Many others will receive a reduction.

I very much appreciate Governor Cuomo’s good faith efforts working with Senate Republicans to remove this unfair burden on Long Island businesses, nonprofits and others.

The MTA Payroll Tax should have never been passed in the first place, and I remain committed to our long term efforts on this issue. It’s important that the MTA continue to pursue increased efficiencies in order to function with less reliance on taxpayer subsidies.

The voters in my district are overwhelmingly opposed to the MTA Payroll Tax and I made a commitment to them that this issue would be my number one priority. I am very happy to deliver this significant victory in my first year in office.

As it is now well known, this past June, the Senate passed my legislation to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. That was the first step. Today was a significant next step..

I would like to thank my constituents, small business owners, and other organizations whose efforts were instrumental in helping us reach this point. Our hard work is paying off.

The MTA Payroll Tax was inhibiting our economy and restricting the growth of quality jobs in New York. This agreement spurs real economic development, and puts New York State on the path towards prosperity.

Our efforts must not stop, even with a $320 million elimination of the MTA Payroll Tax. Together we must continue our work in identifying needed reforms for the MTA to lower its costs without fare increases or service cuts. We must also continue to do more to improve the business climate on Long Island.”

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Senator Zeldin’s MTA Repeal bill S.5596-A/A.8193-A originally passed the New York State Senate on June 15, 2011, with a bi-partisan vote, 40-22. The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman George Latimer (D-Rye). Twenty-one other Assembly Members have signed on as co-sponsors, including Dean Murray (R, C- East Patchogue), Al Graf (R, C- Holbrook), Dan Losquadro (R, C- Shoreham), and Fred Thiele (I- Sag Harbor).

Independent endorsements for Senator Zeldin’s bill come from: The New York State School Boards Association, The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, Tax Relief Now, New York State Catholic Conference, Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Business Council of New York State, Inc., Conservative Party of New York State, Long Island Business News, New York Farm Bureau, GrowPAC, restructuring expert Harry Wilson, Long Island Cares, Inc., Long Island Business Council, Hauppauge Industrial Association, and several Chambers of Commerce.