June 2009 Bulletin.Pub
TheNEW YORK DIVISION BULLETIN - JUNE, 2009 Bulletin New York Division, Electric Railroaders’ Association Vol. 52, No. 6 June, 2009 The Bulletin DOOMSDAY BUDGET AVERTED Published by the New EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELLIOT SANDER RESIGNS York Division, Electric Railroaders’ Association, Late on May 4, it was announced that an and request the option to withdraw. In 1986, Incorporated, PO Box agreement had been reached with two State Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, and Putnam 3001, New York, New Senators who had withheld their support for a Counties were given this option, and only York 10008-3001. “rescue package” or “bailout” for MTA. The Rockland County voted to leave. However, a remaining issue was to exempt school dis- subsequent vote by the County Legislature For general inquiries, tricts from the payroll tax, which will be 34 reversed this decision after MTA agreed to contact us at nydiv@ cents per $100 for every employer’s payroll, provide funding for local transit projects. In electricrailroaders.org in all 12 counties in the MTA region. During 2005, an MTA study found that there is a or by phone at (212) 986-4482 (voice mail the initial negotiations, for Dutchess, Orange, “value gap” because Rockland County con- available). ERA’s and Putnam Counties, the rate would have tributed $88.2 million in taxes and fees, and website is been 25 cents per $100, but in the end it was received $46.5 million worth of services. Of www.electricrailroaders. felt that the rate had to be uniform. To resolve the 12 counties, only Rockland and Orange org. this, Governor David Paterson committed suffer this “value gap.” In 1986, the gap was Editorial Staff: that the state would provide $60 million to $10 million, and the county received $5 mil- Editor-in-Chief: reimburse school districts and signed the bill lion.
[Show full text]