Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell on Friday lauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to give up state Legislative power over county requests to periodically renew request to extend their county sales taxes.
Cuomo’s budget proposal would allow counties to pass the extender in county legislators, sparing county’s the biannual dance with state legislators to maintain the status quo with their taxing powers. In the past, state legislators looking to make a name as tax-cutters have delayed action on the extenders, and caused counties to exert considerable efforts to keep their sales tax.
The overall sales tax in Putnam is 8.375, with 4 percent set aside for the state of NY.
“It helps both entities,” said Odell. “Albany has an awful lot of work, managing it own reform, and it allows counties to have fiscal authority, within reason. Fair is fair. If Albany continues to mandate and impact our budgets, then they have to give, and at least give us more authority, such as on the sales tax.”
Raising the county sales tax, however, will still require approval from the state Legislature.
