MTA Tax Revolt Brewing: What If Counties Refuse To Hand Over The Dough?

Rockland County has already voted to secede from the MTA.  The unrest over the added MTA tax on businesses is rousing a debate throughout lower New York State.  Now the Mid-Hudson Valley counties of Dutchess, Orange and Putnam are fermenting a tax revolt.

What if these lawmakers just refuse to give New York State the money?

It will be a peaceful revolt, perhaps something that has been characterized as an escow account where the monies will be held in political limbo until any court challenges on the expensive bureaucratic add-on are exhausted.

As the Daily News reported last month, there had been resistance from Long Island and Hudson Valley lawmakers -- including 16 Democrats -- to bailing out the MTA with additonal taxes.

Assemblymembers Gregory R. Ball (R, C, I - Patterson) and Marcus Molinaro (R, C, I - Tivoli-on-Hudson) will be holding a summit on the MTA payroll tax with local elected officials and business, non-profit, and community leaders from Dutchess, Orange, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties this morning in Poughkeepsie to discuss the formation of a "taxpayer resistance" through an innovative escrow account method for businesses and non-profits to defeat the payroll tax.

Can the idea fly?

The MTA bailout in Dutchess County alone would sap $17,500,000 from taxpayers, reported The Pougkeepsie Journal, with businesses facing over $11 million in taxes.

The Newburgh City Council voted to formally oppose the tax, reported The Times Herald-Record.

Nassau Republicans have slammed the payroll tax, though Long Island lawmakers can't just vote to reject any part in the MTA like Rockland County did.

The Journal News detailed how suburban commuters will be hit with increase in fares too, effective June 17, so a train "Tea Party" is not implausible.

This is like a political explosion with a delayed fuse. 

Comments

[Jennifer Walford]

I really hope these politicians hold on to this idea of a "tax revolt." I think it is about time people in the region to fight for her/his own interests.