The MTA payroll tax is under fire.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday signaled his displeasure with the levy — 34 cents for every $100 of payroll — that the state imposed on every business in the MTA’s nine-county service region during the agency’s 2009 bailout.
“It is a very onerous tax. Not just in this area. People are complaining on Long Island, the entire metropolitan region. I’ve said from the beginning I understand the need to finance the system. If we can find a better way to do it, I’m open,” Cuomo said in a question-and-answer session after delivering a speech at Marist College.
He is the highest state official even to say he’d repeal the tax — under the right circumstances. David Paterson was governor when the tax was conceived and first imposed.
Top MTA brass say the returns from the tax have repeatedly come in under projections.
The Post reported in December that it’s about $321 million under expectations, bringing in about $1.34 billion instead of the $1.66 billion that bean counters projected.
Business owners across the region — especially on Long Island — said the tax is hurting their bottom line and is counter-productive, because the MTA mostly serves New York City.
Meanwhile, MTA CEO Jay Walder said yesterday that he was not bothered by Cuomo essentially ignoring mass transit issues in his recent State of the State speech.
“I think the importance of our public transit system and the importance of transportation is well understood,” Walder said.
Walder also added that he’s not yet met with the Governor.