SENATOR RHOADS CALLS FOR FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE MTA/LIRR

Long Island, NY – Senator Rhoads joined Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jen DeSena, State Assemblyman Blumencranz, other local officials, commuters, business owners, and residents to rally against New York State’s plan to increase the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax while cutting Long Island Rail Road service. The Governor’s proposed budget includes an $800 million MTA Mobility Payroll Tax Hike proposal planned for employers, local governments, and self-employed individuals. From eliminating eastbound trains during rush hour and increasing the time between trains to making individual commutes longer, the MTA’s new schedule is detrimental to a community that already faces decreased train service. 

The MTA/LIRR service cuts and fiscal mismanagement underscore how offensive it is that the Governor wants to increase the Payroll Tax. Instead of constantly looking at the taxpayers, commuters, and businesses to bail out the MTA, we need to be looking at what the MTA is doing. Senator Rhoads and the Minority Conference in the Senate is calling for the New York State Comptroller to do a forensic audit of the MTA to get answers and deliver accountability for the hard-working taxpayers. 

Senator Steve Rhoads stated, “To me, MTA stands for Money Thrown Away. Time and again Long Islanders are being told by this Governor that we have to bail out an MTA notorious for service cuts, safety concerns, scheduling issues and fiscal mismanagement. We deserve better. 

The MTA has lost public trust and they must be held accountable. The forensic audit we are demanding will help uncover the waste and abuse that plagues this agency and continues to rob commuters of the competent, efficient, and safe transportation they deserve. Why don’t we stop the Hochul payroll taxes, congestion pricing or whatever the next gimmick will be and actually clean up the MTA? My constituents have had enough! We need a forensic audit now!”

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “The MTA must immediately restore service cuts, and State lawmakers must stop their plans to increase the MTA Payroll Tax. Higher payroll taxes will only hurt taxpayers, businesses, governments and self-employed individuals at a time when they can least afford it. Between out of control property taxes, high utility bills, soaring interest rates and record inflation, Long Island residents are already stretched thin! A payroll tax increase is the last thing we need!”

Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz stated, “With all the increased trains, service cuts and schedule changes, the Oyster Bay line continues to be neglected and commuters are facing the consequences. It is clear that the MTA’s priorities are upside-down and the need for a full time LIRR president is more important now than ever before. We need consistent leadership and viable funding to fix the problems commuters are facing rather than the proposed $800 million MTA Mobility Payroll Tax Hike that will only continue to take income from our residents without providing improved or increased service.”