KINGSTON – Speaker after speaker implored the Ulster County Legislature Tuesday night to support a state legislative measure to impose a tax surcharge on high-income residents. In the end, the measure was adopted 15-8 to request home rule legislation from the state.
Many residents who spoke in support of the home rule request to Albany, like Gabrielle Anise, a single mother of one, are living on a tight budget and believe the surcharge will help their situations.
“Who need these services more than someone who makes $300,000 a year needs that extra $600 they would have to pay under the fair taxes act,” she said.
Legislature Chairman Peter Criswell was one of these who voted for the measure.
“What we’re not doing is creating. We’re not imposing a surcharge on anyone. No one will pay a single dollar more in taxes as a result of today’s vote,” he said. “What we’re doing is asking the state to authorize a home rule resolution to allow us to look at our taxing authority and make adjustments as needed.”
County approval of this resolution does not mean there will be an income tax surcharge but only starts the dialogue for possible tax changes.
Comments