Legislation introduced to eliminate MTA tax in Hudson Valley and Long Island

Albany — State Sen. John Bonacic has introduced legislation to eliminate the MTA Tax in the Hudson Valley and Long Island. The bill would eliminate the MTA Tax in Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties. In turn, the legislation would authorize the New York City Council to establish tolls on the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro bridges over the East River for the purpose of providing an additional dedicated source of funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Tolls on the East River bridges have been projected to bring in more revenue than the MTA tax. According to a 2003 analysis, East River Bridge Tolls: Revenue, Traffic, Mobility and Equity Impacts; prepared by Schaller Consulting for Transportation Alternatives NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign, New York City would bring in $522 million in annual revenue if the city adopted toll charges between $2.50 and $5 for the East River bridges. In comparison, an analysis done in June 2009, by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli projected that the MTA tax would bring in $394.3 million in revenue from Long Island and Hudson Valley - meaning the bridge tolls would be more than enough to make up lost revenue. However, the accuracy of that projection has come into question given the current recession. According to state comptroller 2009 report, Orange County’s local governments, businesses, and non-profits are expected to contribute $17.9 million annually through the MTA tax. Dutchess County’s local governments, small businesses, and non-profits are expected to contribute $17.7 million. Four of Bonacic’s Republican senator colleagues, Greg Ball, Bill Larkin, Steve Saland, and Lee Zeldin, co-sponsored the legislation.