Posted on 03/31/2019 6:25:29 PM PDT by Libloather
New York woke Sunday to learn that state lawmakers had agreed to a budget that aims to spend a whopping $175 billion in the next fiscal year, while imposing a boatload of new taxes and fees in the name of funding the MTA.
More hits to your pocket, and more spending, are still to come: The budget also sets up “independent” commissions to settle the details of both public funding of state political campaigns and “congestion” tolls in Manhattan. Plus, lawmakers this year may yet legalize online sports betting and the sale of pot, each of which will come with a hefty cut of the profits for state government.
The only good news: Lawmakers agreed to make permanent the law capping property-tax hikes (which doesn’t apply in the city). It will no longer be linked to renewal of the rent-control laws.
But the rent laws are being tightened, and some city real-estate taxes are headed up: The budget adds new “mansion” taxes on the sale of multimillion-dollar homes — while reserving the revenue for state priorities, even though property taxes traditionally fund local government.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
“New York To Create Largest Speed Camera Program In US”
March 29, 2019
New York legislature enacts bill to blanket Manhattan with more than a thousand speed cameras.
New York is poised to replace Chicago, Illinois, as the home to the country’s largest network of speed cameras. A total of 350 red light cameras in the Windy City generated $500 million with $125,904,645 going to Redflex Traffic Systems. The program suffered a major setback when the Australian vendor was caught paying Chicago officials a personal bonus for every camera added to the system. Now Chicago has 161 speed cameras. In New York, legislation adopted last week would allow a private company to blanket Manhattan with more than a thousand speed cameras.
http://thenewspaper.com/news/66/6681.asp
Congestion pricing set to pass in New York, but details remain murky
New York will be the first U.S. city to implement a congestion pricing program under the state budget put before lawmakers on Sunday — but how much drivers will pay and it exactly how it will be implemented is unclear.
Cars and trucks will be tolled when they enter Manhattan at 60th St. and points south, with some notable exceptions.
The West Side Highway and the FDR Drive will be exempt from the toll under the agreement unveiled Sunday. Emergency vehicles and some cars transporting folks with disabilities will be exempt from the charge.
The new law also allows people living in the congestion zone who make less than $60,000 a year to deduct the cost of the tolls from their tax bills — essentially exempting them from the charges.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you or I could spend more than we can afford but just pass off the expenses to other people, like New York politicians do?
When I’ve entered Manhattan from the north I usually take the Willis Third Street bridge. Wonder how that will play into the toll?
Geez, no wonder people are fleeing that sewer.
Wow. About 1.3 million dollars per year, per camera, with $400,000 per camera to the camera company.
A license to steal.
The idea that this helps traffic, in any way, is ludicrous.
“Geez, no wonder people are fleeing that sewer.”
I’m hoping, at 78, to be around long enough to see NY, Il, and CA go broke. And it looks as though I may get my wish, because they are really turning up the wick on spending other people’s money in those states.
Excellent news... Make your bed... Now sleep in it...
They want people with not that much money to flee the city.
The rich will stay if they have to because they still can afford to. The poor are poor and cant go anyhwere and dont have much stuff the taxes can impact so they stay.
Anyone in the middle who wants to preserve what they have so they dont devolve into the poor, leaves.
“New York woke Sunday to learn that state lawmakers had agreed to a budget that aims to spend a whopping $175 billion in the next fiscal year...”
I wonder how much of that is for public employee pensions.
Of note: California’s spending will be only $144.2 billion in 2019-2020 fiscal year.
How does New York, with 1/3 the landmass and 60% of the population of CA manage to budget/spend $175 billion !?!?
It’s not like they are more commie than a CA commie. And NO WAY they could be more corrupt.
I think NY is headed for a crack up.
My guess is that they have more highly paid Ivy League lawyers that Ca.
Parking garage rates north of 60th street will go up a bit, particularly near subway stops. It will still be expensive but theater goers and others seeking a night out in midtown will try to skip the congestion fee, park north of 60th street, and take a subway just a few stops.
NY is not a state anymore but a failing socialist province.
These new laws passed by Albany this weekend are an attack on President Trump and the middle class.
“Plus, lawmakers this year may yet legalize online sports betting and the sale of pot, each of which will come with a hefty cut of the profits for state government.”
Lawmakers = pimps and pushers.
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