Senator O'Brien votes "yes" on tax relief for families, small business development

ALBANY, N.Y. – Today, Senator Ted O’Brien voted in favor of the Senate’s budget resolution, strongly supporting its calls for millions of dollars of tax relief for families, financial support for new, growing businesses and restoration of funding cuts for programs benefiting people with developmental disabilities.

“I hear frequently from families struggling with high taxes,” O’Brien said. “I believe the changes we’re proposing today are going to be of significant assistance to them.”

Part of the resolution, which calls for a Family Tax Relief Act, adds or increases several exemptions for families with children and other dependents. These measures alone will cut middle class families’ taxes by over $800 million.

The resolution also calls for $1 million to help new businesses get off the ground by providing incubator services, including marketing assistance, help finding investors and presenting business plans to them and expert advice on accounting and complying with regulations.

Finally, the resolution restores across-the-board cuts to programs benefiting individuals with developmental disabilities, ensuring they receive the healthcare and other services they need to lead productive and happy lives.

“Providing help to new, small businesses and to families is one of the most certain paths to growing our state’s economy,” O’Brien said. “Small businesses are the engines of job growth. They are challenged to find new ways to compete and prosper in a changing global economy, and we need to assist them. At the same time, this resolution makes it possible for families to stay in New York State and spend more money here, driving our consumer economy to new heights.”

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Sen. O’Brien represents the 55th district in the Senate, which is made up of the eastern half of Monroe County and the western half of Ontario County, including much of the city of Rochester.

Media contact:

Thomas J. Morrisey
Communications Director
office: (585) 223-1800
e-mail: tjmorris@nysenate.gov