Skip to main content

Hawley calls for agriculture tax credit to offset Thruway tolls paid by farmers

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced today that he will sponsor a bill to provide tax credits against New York State Thruway tolls for farmers who travel the highway. Assembly Bill 2414 provides a tax credit of 75 percent of the Thruway tolls assumed by farmers in order to allow them more profits when selling their products across the state. Hawley said this is a vital piece of legislation that will help sustain the farms in his Western New York district and allow them to sell crops statewide. 

“Growing up on our family’s farm, I know firsthand the struggles our farmers face every year,” Hawley said. “Profits are not guaranteed and much of the business relies not only on the ability to produce a high yield of crops, but also the ability to transport those products across the state and sell them at a variety of outlets. Thruway tolls are continuing to rise, and large-box trucks and farm vehicles are not allowed on smaller highways. Because of this, farmers are losing a large amount of their profits in tolls. This bill would allow greater intrastate commerce while also financially supporting those who feed our state.”

The legislation is a bipartisan effort currently awaiting action in the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee. Under the bill, to receive the tax credit, farm vehicles cannot exceed 26,000 pounds and must be controlled and operated by a farmer for the transport of agriculture products, farm supplies or farm machinery.

Mark Potwora

Again another game of winner and losers..In this case farmers get free thruway tolls but the trucking industry and the rest of the common folk who drive on the thruway should pay ...Its the tolls that pay to run the thruway..No one group should get special treatment..Framers should pay there fair share like the rest of us..

Mar 12, 2015, 2:17pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

I have a better idea:

Since the NYSTA was only supposed to charge tolls for a certain period anyway, why not use this time to end the tolls all together?

It's not that I'm against farmers getting something to lower their production and revenue costs, but seriously the tolls were only supposed to be for a short amount of time to begin with.

Mar 12, 2015, 3:56pm Permalink
John Roach

We all know how this works. You raise the price on things, people will use less of it. Does not matter if it is water, natural gas or tolls, if the price goes up, you try to cut back. Then the price goes up again to make up for the lost revenue.

Just for once, the NYSTA should try lowering the tolls to get more drivers back on it.They just might generate more revenue

Mar 12, 2015, 4:09pm Permalink
Doug Barnard

This has bad idea written all over it.

Why would only farmers be exempt?

My freight costs are crazy. Can I get free tolls for my freight?

Oh and can you please write in a section where I get credit for my personal ez-pass?

Mar 12, 2015, 6:00pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Just as an anecdote: I drove to Albany Tuesday Morning, and back from Canandaigua today. That road is in terrible shape. I about got knocked unconscious under the Kelsey Rd overpass. I don't know what they do with all the money they collect.($23.50 for a single rear axle truck Pembroke to the 87 - 90 split in Colonie, about 260 miles or .90 per mile ).

And oh yeah Steve: find me a business where profits are guaranteed and I'm in :)

Mar 12, 2015, 6:34pm Permalink
Bob Harker

Sever the Canal Corporation and make the canal "pay as you go". I have never used the canal but am supporting the boating public almost everyday by paying inflated tolls.

If you can afford a boat, and use the canal, you can afford to support it yourself. Why should I?

Mar 12, 2015, 7:03pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

This is what is wrong with New York State. Steve Hawley and his cohorts in Albany who believe that some should get tax breaks well others pay the full amount.. Instead of coming up with a plan were all benefit .they like to use the tax system to reward one group and penalizing another...Why not come up with a plan that lowers toll rates for all.If its not tolls rates its tax abatement's..I guess it makes for a good press release...

Mar 12, 2015, 8:44pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Assemblyman Hawley, stop playing favoritism. Stop sucking up to the predominant group(s) of your constituency. Rather, represent ALL equally and fairly. Try getting a tax credit for ALL vehicles from your district that use the Thruway!

Mar 15, 2015, 12:44am Permalink
Raymond Richardson

"Try getting a tax credit for ALL vehicles from your district that use the Thruway!"

I'd rather see him, or any state legislator, grow a pair and put a bill on the floor to do away with the NYSTA and the tolls all together.

Mar 17, 2015, 8:55am Permalink

Authentically Local