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Today's Poll: Should NYS set up tax-free zones for businesses at SUNY campuses?

By Howard B. Owens
Dave Olsen

The governor should be focused on lowering or eliminating taxes for everyone in NYS, not just some. He needs to be reducing waste and rooting out corruption and inefficiencies. Instead he is re-distributing the pain and the wealth. He says it's OK though. That's just the way it is. Sorry, Andrew that's not good enough, I refuse to accept that premise and neither should any New Yorker. It surely is not a perfect world, but we should never stop trying to make it more closer to perfect, as opposed to saying - too bad for some.

"Cuomo acknowledged his tax-free proposal sets up winners and losers in the state tax code.
"That is the way of the world, now," Cuomo said. "The tax code is riddled with benefits, burdens for specific businesses. In a perfect world, would you say, 'Everyone -- equal footing?' Yes. But it's not a perfect world."

May 23, 2013, 8:22am Permalink
Jeff Allen

The proposal also includes workers not paying income tax for 5 years and then only on income over $200,000 (what on campus businesses pay those kind of wages?) thereafter. Here is the scenario I see happening: businesses under this plan can pay lower wages (minimum wage) while maintaining a competitive edge since workers would actually be taking home more. Since their income (not take home) will be in the lowest bracket, they will qualify for benefits. The end result will be more New Yorkers collecting benefits with a negative offset. I am all for tax relief, but this smacks of selective cronyism with little or no benefit to the state as a whole in the end.

May 23, 2013, 9:40am Permalink
John Stone

So, the 'new' business that is going to be started across the street from my pre-existing business will be doing the same type of work that I do. We manufacture identical 'Widgets'.
Their 'Widget' is going to retail for $10.00 each.
My identical 'Widgets' have to be priced at $15.00 each, because I have to continue paying all of my taxes.
Boy, I am sure happy that this Putz wants to "stimulate small business"... The result of this new policy is guaranteed to put me out of business so the 'New Business' will succeed! (Not to mention the fact that the new guy took 14 of my best employees, because they now don't have to pay any income tax.
If there is anybody out there that thinks this new policy is a good one, I'd personally like to be the first to call you a fool...

May 23, 2013, 11:06am Permalink

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