Rockland County Executive Ed Day is voicing strong support for new legislation introduced by Senator Bill Weber that would exempt Rockland County businesses from the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax.
“The County of Rockland is happy to support Senator Weber’s proposed legislation,” said Day in a statement. “This makes perfect sense, given the more than $40 million value gap between what Rockland County residents and businesses pay to the MTA each year and the limited service and funding we receive in return.”
If passed, the legislation would deliver significant financial relief to local businesses and certain self-employed individuals who currently pay tens of millions of dollars annually in MTA payroll taxes.
Day also used the opportunity to renew his call for Governor Kathy Hochul to advance Rockland’s long-standing nominee to the MTA Board. The county has gone two years without a voting representative, despite having submitted three candidates, including their current nominee, Neil Cosgrove.
“Neil Cosgrove, a professional and qualified Rockland County resident, stands ready to serve,” said Day. “The Governor’s Office has contacted my office about this request, and I look forward to discussing it with her staff in the near future.”
Rockland County officials have long contended that the county is underserved by the MTA relative to its financial contributions, and this legislative effort is seen as a step toward rectifying that imbalance.