New York Counties Fighting State For Sales Tax Increases

Rockland County, New York requested to be allowed to implement a sales tax increase in the county. However, “…State Senator David Carlucci has officially rebuffed a proposal from the Rockland County Legislature to raise the Rockland portion of the sales tax in order to reduce the county’s deficit.”

Carlucci’s vote was a vote of no confidence that the additional sales tax revenue would resolve the county’s problems. The county proposed that the sales tax hike was necessary in order to keep Summit Park Hospital open and its county workers employed. Carlucci was not convinced that the funds would be spent to “…ensure that the nursing home would stay open as well as guarantee both jobs and residents would be protected.”

Up north in St. Lawrence County, a similar “…desire to raise its sales tax rather than hitting taxpayers with a hefty property tax or a drastic reduction of services,” is going on as well. The County Legislative Chair, Sallie Brothers, is trying to meet with the Governor to “…explain the county’s precarious financial condition and the reasoning behind the need to raise the county’s sales tax from 3 to 4 percent.”

New York State’s sales tax is 4.0 percent, however counties have the authority to levy up to 3 percent more in sales tax on top of that. To go beyond that 3 percent cap, a county much obtain the state Legislature’s approval.