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Thread: Erie County Sales Tax Rate becomes NYS Highest

  1. #1
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    Erie County Sales Tax Rate becomes NYS Highest

    Erie County’s sales tax rate will remain at 8.75 percent, New York’s highest now that Oneida County has dropped its rate.
    WHY NO MEDIA COVERAGE ON THE VOTES TO EXTEND SALES TAXES !
    OH WAIT, BUSINESS AS USUALLY,

    Extra penny of sales tax headed for another extension
    By Matthew Spina NEWS STAFF REPORTER
    Updated: 01/25/08 6:51 AM


    The Erie County Legislature on Thursday took its second of the three procedural votes required to continue levying the sales tax penny first added in 1985, the “temporary penny” that triggers political haggling whenever it’s extended.

    This year’s action was no exception as lawmakers grudgingly voted, 12-3, to continue the penny through November 2010 — 11 months beyond their current term in office.

    With one more vote in a few weeks, Erie County’s sales tax rate will remain at 8.75 percent, New York’s highest now that Oneida County has dropped its rate to 8.75 percent as well.

    The 12-member Democratic majority split into two loose camps this month after Democrat Lynn M. Marinelli broke a taboo: She turned to the Legislature’s three Republican lawmakers for support in order to continue as chairwoman for another year.

    Her opponents later grumbled that the Republicans should not expect Democrats alone to cast the politically unpopular votes to keep the penny in place. Without the three Republican votes Thursday, the extension would have failed.

    “Realistically, there is no way we can avoid that 1 percent,” said Legislator John Mills of Orchard Park, the Republican minority leader (despite the fact that 60 of NY's 61 other counties have) . “My colleagues and I aren’t going to put ourselves in a position where we are going to disrupt the government.”

    Erie County will continue to share $12.5 million of the proceeds each year with cities, towns and villages, with Buffalo collecting the greatest share. Three legislators wanted to instead give the $12.5 million to cultural groups, the Olmsted Parks and a road repair fund.

    But proponents Michele M. Iannello of Kenmore, Robert B. Reynolds of Hamburg and Thomas A. Loughran of Amherst, all Democrats, were outnumbered. They cast the only votes against the sales tax extension.

    Erie County sorely needs the estimated $135 million a year generated by the temporary penny, Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz once wrote in analyzing the government’s reliance on the sales tax over the property tax. But Poloncarz remarked that the dynamics over the penny’s extension since 1985 “only serves to encourage grandstanding, pandering and hysteria.”

    Sales tax extensions require support from a two-thirds majority of legislators, and traditionally the party in power provides the largest bloc of support. But lawmakers often withhold their votes for something in return.

    Marinelli is supported by a thin majority of legislators but cannot count on a majority of her Democratic caucus.

    The strategy to extend the tax through November 2010 was devised by former County Executive Joel A. Giambra and his lawyers before he left office. Extending the tax for 30 months lets the county go through the process with Albany less frequently and puts it on the same November renewal cycle as other counties.

    County Executive Chris Collins, a Republican, later said he was pleased the tax was extended.

    “Today’s vote is a continuing sign that the days of brazen partisanship are over,” he said in a written statement. “ . . . For those few legislators who still believe that partisan games are the best approach, I am hopeful that they will join the rest of us to help make a real difference for taxpayers.”
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    Well, this is our fault as voters by not doing something years ago to stop the money sucking.

    Unfortunately, now this has to stick until we demand real change.
    http://www.buffaloreuse.org/~kool aid free zone~

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    B-b-b-but wait! I thought that Collins WAS real change? And he supported the extension??? How does that work?
    But your being a dick
    ~Wnyresident

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    Member concernedwnyer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by keyboard150
    Well, this is our fault as voters by not doing something years ago to stop the money sucking.

    Unfortunately, now this has to stick until we demand real change.

    THANK YOU!! A realist!!!!!!! There really was no tax revolt there was more a noise revolt if anything else. Taxes and fees not only increaes but they all surpassed the projected amounts that were being proposed initially!

    What the hell car registratin renewal over $60 bucks and then they want to add another $10 or $20 on top of that?????


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    Member concernedwnyer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it
    B-b-b-but wait! I thought that Collins WAS real change? And he supported the extension??? How does that work?

    Not enough time now... He needs to build up the surplus and then stream line everything . I mean everything.... May be next year sales tax will drop throuhg a special vote or something...

    For our area I think an 8% or a 7.5% would be a good goal.



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    Don't worry about run4it, he has no ability to see long term.


    Obviously Chris has inherited a mess, and he's going to need the penny at least for now to keep things above water.

    I have confidence that he's not only going to find a way to ditch that penny, but the one that came before it.

    Otherwise, he's not a very good businessman.
    http://www.buffaloreuse.org/~kool aid free zone~

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    Member Eat My Gun's Avatar
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    I love how they term it an "extra penny" as if to minimize it.

    It's ONE PERCENT!


    "I won't live by rules that make no sense to me." - Evan Tanner 1971-2008

    Transfixus sed non Mortuus

  8. #8
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    But proponents Michele M. Iannello of Kenmore, Robert B. Reynolds of Hamburg and Thomas A. Loughran of Amherst, all Democrats, were outnumbered. They cast the only votes against the sales tax extension.

    Not surprised these 3 dems would vote no to something that was a given to pass. How nice they can now say they didn't vote for the extra penny come election time. If these 3 had any brains/courage, they would have submitted a detailed plan prior to the vote as to how the revenue from the loss of the extra penny could be sustained.

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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it
    B-b-b-but wait! I thought that Collins WAS real change? And he supported the extension??? How does that work?
    What did you want him to do?
    First Amendment rights are like muscles, if you don't exercise them they will atrophy.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eat My Gun
    I love how they term it an "extra penny" as if to minimize it.

    It's ONE PERCENT!
    Only in America do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

    Cut services, social services, foodstamps, WIC and lay off county employees.

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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it
    B-b-b-but wait! I thought that Collins WAS real change? And he supported the extension??? How does that work?
    He's not going to make the same mistake as Giambra. The budget for this year is in motion, there's no way Chris could be in favor of doing away with that 1% before seeing how deep some of the cuts are he can make. The change comes in to play in not hiring his childhood playmate to drive him around and stuff like that. The other part of being about change is looking at where the waste is BEFORE cutting our legs out from under us. The changes should be pro-active, not reactive.
    Plus, I kinda like the idea of some Canadians adding to our revenues by that much more. Then maybe we can get rid of BOTH temp increases in one fell swoop!

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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it
    B-b-b-but wait! I thought that Collins WAS real change? And he supported the extension??? How does that work?
    During the caimpagn he has always stated that he would not be able to decrease taxes or the sales tax....it's called keeping being honest....I guess local people would find that out of the ordinary

  13. #13
    Member run4it's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Townsfolk
    Not surprised these 3 dems would vote no to something that was a given to pass. How nice they can now say they didn't vote for the extra penny come election time. If these 3 had any brains/courage, they would have submitted a detailed plan prior to the vote as to how the revenue from the loss of the extra penny could be sustained.
    So you support keeping the extra 1% sales tax?
    But your being a dick
    ~Wnyresident

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    Member Velvet Fog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Townsfolk
    Only in America do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

    Cut services, social services, foodstamps, WIC and lay off county employees.
    I agree--the problem is that its social services, foodstamps, wic that are really causing the problem....and their mandates! Cutting serivces and laying off employees won't put a dent in the real problem....THE MADATES!
    Peace Out Funky

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Velvet Fog
    I agree--the problem is that its social services, foodstamps, wic that are really causing the problem....and their mandates! Cutting serivces and laying off employees won't put a dent in the real problem....THE MADATES!
    I disagree, I think it's the delivery and the guidelines that are at fault. Take for example HEAP, the funds are supposed to be for those who need assistance becuase of a layoff or income is too low. Instead it's doled out to those on public assistance which already get money for utilities through their monthly allocation. Also, if some poor people don't apply they up the income level to allow more people in rather than give us a tax break.

    I think poor people should be assited along with those that are going through tough times (unemployment).

    I haven't mentioned the waste on how the county delivers the money, egad!

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