ALBANY- Days after the Putnam Legislature voted to memorialize State Senator Rob Rolison’s proposed Utility Tax Holiday legislation, the Putnam-Dutchess-Orange County lawmaker’s bill moved forward by the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee which referred it to the Senate Energy Committee for further consideration.
If approved and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the legislation would set up a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and a two-year green energy tax holiday to help lower costs for homeowners, families and small businesses across New York State.
Rolison who represents constituents in Philipstown and Putnam Valley in addition to a large section of Dutchess and a section of Orange County, is calling on the Senate Energy Committee to quickly advance his utility tax holiday legislation to the Senate floor for a full vote, saying New Yorkers need immediate relief from skyrocketing utility costs now, not five to ten years from now.
“This legislation needs to move through the Energy Committee as quickly as possible and be brought to the Senate floor for a vote and passed,” said Rolison who added: “Hardworking families and small businesses are being crushed by skyrocketing utility costs, and they need immediate relief, not in five to ten years. This is a common-sense proposal and right now, this is the only bill on the table that would provide direct, immediate relief, and the Senate should act to pass it.”
Putnam Legislator William Gouldman of Putnam Valley remembered when Albany provided tax relief in 2022 with a “gas tax holiday” when the price of a gallon of unleaded fuel exceeded $5.
Gouldman said: “Most people do not pay attention to these taxes. They just know that their bills are too high. Now, because all our bills are increasing very quickly, the state needs to take immediate action to help residents of Putnam County and the Hudson Valley.”
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