Senate Republicans Will Recommend Rejecting Tax-And-Fee Increases In One-House Budget Plan To Be Unveiled Next Week

The New York State Senate Republican Conference will recommend rejecting hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax-and-fee increases advanced in Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposal.  The Senate Majority, which has long been at the forefront of efforts to cut taxes and control spending in New York, will urge the move as part of a fiscally responsible one-house budget plan set to be unveiled next week.

According to analyses by both the Senate and Assembly, the Governor’s Executive Budget submission includes more than $800 million in new tax actions, including a series of new motor vehicle fees, new taxes on internet purchases, a new surcharge on pre-paid cell phones, as well as reinstatement of an expiring high-earner’s tax.

Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said, “Middle-class taxpayers are struggling under the crushing weight of property taxes, income taxes, mortgages and the skyrocketing costs of higher education for their children.  In this environment, these new taxes and fees are the last thing hardworking families want or need.  We must make it more affordable to live and work in New York, not less, and that’s exactly what our Senate budget will reflect.”

Senator Catharine Young, Senate Finance Committee Chair, said, “New Yorkers everywhere continue to suffocate under the heavy tax burden, one that would only get worse if we were to pile on millions of dollars more in new taxes and fees.  Our overburdened taxpayers need and deserve relief, and the Senate is rejecting these additional taxes because we are committed to enacting a fiscally responsible budget.  We need to make our state a more affordable place to live, work and grow jobs, so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.” 

At the insistence of Senate Republicans, the last six enacted budgets have been balanced without any tax-and-fee increases.  Since returning to the majority in 2011, Senate Republicans have provided the leadership to cut taxes 78 times, totaling $11 billion.

Senate Republicans created the original STAR school property tax program, enhanced STAR for seniors, and the STAR rebate checks, and even delivered a property tax cap.  Last year, the conference put forward a major middle-class income tax cut proposal and won approval of it as part of the enacted state budget.  The relief from this middle-class income tax cut will begin at the end of the year.

The Senate’s one-house budget will be advanced and approved the week of March 13, followed by the start of open, public conference committees to iron out differences that exist between the Senate and Assembly plans.

A new state budget is scheduled to take effect on April 1.