NY GOP senators want utility tax surcharge dropped
NY Senate Republicans want utility tax surcharge extension to expire as scheduled
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York State Senate Republicans say they want the Cuomo administration to remove from his proposed budget an extension of the 1 percent utility tax surcharge beyond its scheduled expiration in 2014.
Sen. Patrick Gallivan from Erie County says the extension would mostly affect businesses, particularly manufacturers that use large amounts of energy.
It was imposed in 2009 on electric, gas, steam and non-municipal water services.
State Public Service Law authorizes an assessment on utility bills to fund energy-related state agencies and authorities.
The Business Council of New York State also says the assessment should be allowed to drop from 2 percent to 1 percent as scheduled, that extending it will cost all energy consumers in the state $236 million in 2014 and $2.8 billion over the next six years.
