Empire State Today

State lawmakers in New York are considering new taxes to support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The proposals include a fee on online package deliveries and a surcharge on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. These measures aim to contribute to the MTA's $65.4 billion capital plan, which is intended to maintain and modernize the transit system through 2029.

The proposed taxes also suggest increasing the current 0.60% payroll mobility tax that affects employers in New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. However, specific details of these proposals remain limited.

Some business leaders have expressed concerns about the potential impact of these taxes. Ashley Ranslow, New York director of the National Federation of Independent Business, criticized the idea of raising the payroll tax again. "The MTA payroll tax was increased just two years ago and congestion pricing began in January — it is baffling that Albany is already talking about another tax hike," Ranslow stated. She warned that such an increase could result in "more vacant storefronts and a higher cost of living for all New Yorkers."