NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Senator George Latimer, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti were joined by several regional Westchester County library officials to announce the repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax for New York Public Libraries.
“The savings for New Rochelle Library will go a long way,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, “Our libraries know how to stretch a dollar – our tax dollars — to provide excellent programs for people of all ages. Our libraries need these funds to upgrade technology and to remain a vibrant center of activity in our communities.”
“Our Libraries are an integral part of our local communities, and I am proud to support any effort that will save them precious resources,” said Senator George Latimer. “Individuals like Haina work to help residents access information to make their lives better. We must do all that we can to keep our Libraries a strong, accessible resource for all residents.”
“As the new Chair of the Assembly Libraries Committee, I am pleased that we were able to exempt Libraries from the MTA Tax,” said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, “Every dollar is vital to our libraries which are vital to our communities.”
Haina Just-Michael, president of the New Rochelle Public Library, praised Paulin, Latimer, and Abinanti citing years of advocacy and collaborative work, “I am so grateful to our state representatives for lifting this burden from our libraries’ budgets. After years of meetings, phone calls, and numerous trips to Albany, we all worked together and finally got this done.” Added Just-Michael, “This will save the New Rochelle Library, and the city’s taxpayers, nearly $10,000 per year.”
Enacted in 2009, the MTA Payroll Tax impacts employers in New York City, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Vallley. Previous legislation has exempted private and pubic schools, as well as certain small businesses from paying the tax. Repealing the MTA Tax for libraries is estimated to save downstate libraries $1.3 million annually.
