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State Officials Announce MTA Payroll Tax Repeal In New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — State Sen. George Latimer (D-37), Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-88) and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) joined with several library officials across Westchester County to officially announce the repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax for New York Public Libraries.

A group of local library presidents join state Sen. George Latimer (D-37), Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-88), and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) in celebrating the repeal of the MTA library tax.

A group of local library presidents join state Sen. George Latimer (D-37), Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-88), and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) in celebrating the repeal of the MTA library tax.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The tax went into effect in 2009, affecting businesses in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. Earlier legislation allowed exemptions for private and public schools, along with certain small businesses.

New Rochelle Public Library president Haina Just-Michael heaped praise on the state representatives behind the repeal.

“I am so grateful to our state representatives for lifting this burden from our libraries’ budgets," she said. "After years of meetings, phone calls, and numerous trips to Albany, we all worked together and finally got this done.”

Just-Michael estimated the savings from the tax for New Rochelle and the library could be $10,000 annually.

"Our libraries are an integral part of our local communities, and I am proud to support any effort that will save them precious resources," Latimer said. "Individuals like Haina work to help residents access information to make their lives better. We must do all that we can to keep our Libraries a strong, accessible resource for all residents."

The decision is estimated to save somewhere in the range of $1.3 million areawide every year.

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