To Promote Repeal of MTA Payroll Tax
Shirley, NY- Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) unveiled a new political website today directed at his efforts to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax, a job killing tax that, in 2009, was placed on every business, school, local government, nonprofit and hospital in Suffolk County and throughout the 12 county MTA region.
WWW.DUMPTHEMTATAX.COM invites voters to sign a petition, and learn more about the MTA and the MTA Tax, as well as Senator Zeldin’s efforts to repeal the tax.
“I campaigned for office with an important purpose and promise,” said Senator Zeldin. “My commitment has been to hold the MTA’s feet to the fire on behalf of the taxpayers of the 3rd Senate District. I will continue to shine a light on all of the ways the MTA can do more with less. My promise is not to rest until the legislature takes action to repeal the payroll tax.”
Aside from participating in 3 productive public hearings so far in 2011 concerning MTA finances, Senator Zeldin recently penned a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to add a repeal of the MTA payroll tax to his agenda. Additionally, Senator Zeldin recently sent a letter to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli requesting a thorough top-down forensic audit of the MTA’s finances.
Senator Zeldin is currently developing legislation for a multi-year phase out of the payroll tax to be introduced this legislative session. He hopes to finalize legislation this week to be introduced in the next 7-10 days.
“I have spent my first few months in office, questioning Chairman Walder, MTA board members, state legislators, transportation experts, economists and others to identify ways for the MTA to tighten its belt,” continued Senator Zeldin. ”I have studied the MTA’s budget, consolidated balance sheets, real estate portfolios, news articles and more. I have spent many hours reflecting on an effective legislative solution for Albany to act on.”
While noting that real estate transfer tax collections are now increasing due to a recovering economy, Senator Zeldin has been advocating that the payroll tax can be repealed without cuts to services or increases in fares as the MTA has threatened. He has identified over a dozen potential ways for the MTA to cut expenses to balance its books. These include, but are not limited to:
– Eliminate overtime abuse- well over $400 million is spent on overtime annually;
– MTA should share in enforcement camera fines in MTA bus lanes;
– Competitive bidding/ privatization of NYC bus system;
– Public/private partnerships;
– Reduce outside litigation costs by increasing utilization of in-house attorneys or the NYS Attorney General’s office;
– Sell some of the MTA’s capital assets currently valued at over $50 billion;
– Reduce the cash and investment float, which amounts to billions;
– Reduce the amount of managers and supervisors, which is currently over 10,000 of the MTA’s 66,000 employees;
– Crack down on pension padding where possible;
– Cashless tolls throughout the system;
– Reduced “vacancy/absentee” coverage of MTA Bridges and Tunnels; and
– Improve process for approving personal and miscellaneous services contracts.
“The job killing MTA Payroll Tax should have never been enacted in the first place,” stated Senator Zeldin. ”If I had been in office in 2009, I would have voted against it then. Now that I am in office, it is my duty to live up to my promise.”
WWW.DUMPTHEMTATAX.COM is a website for supporters of a payroll tax repeal to visit, sign up, and join Senator Zeldin’s efforts to hold the MTA more accountable for its finances and to repeal this unduly burdensome tax. This websitewas not made or paid for at taxpayers’ expense.
