Taxation and Finance

End the Diversion of Sales Tax to Fund State Responsibilities 

County executives from around the state call on Governor Hochul and members of the State Assembly and Senate to end the practice of diverting local sales taxes out of local communities and into state coffers. 

Here are 10 reasons why counties are fighting to ensure this year's enacted budget ends this practice and keeps local tax revenue where it belongs; funding local programs and services.

The U.S. Treasury released the final rule for the use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Over the last two state budget cycles, numerous actions have been taken in the State Budget that severely undermine the local tax base.

While the agreed upon stimulus legislation provides needed relief to families and businesses, it fails to provide direct, unrestricted aid to the states and county governments.

As counties struggle with mounting, unbudgeted COVID-related costs, they are simultaneously losing revenue due to the reduced economic activity that has come with fighting the virus.

This NYSAC report, released in 2019, provides a snapshot of county sales tax activity between 2000 and 2017.

This NYSAC report provides a summary of where counties get their revenue, broad categories of spending, and utilization of debt.

The NYSAC fact sheet below provides county priorities in regard to the tax cap. While the cap is now permanent, counties are still seeking the implementation of the priorities expressed in the fact sheet.