MINORITY CAUCUS CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR TAX RELIEF ON THE HIGH COST OF GASOLINE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 18, 2006

Contact: George Oros, 914.995.2828, Oros@westchesterlegislators.com

As a follow up to their recent proposal to suspend the County’s portion of sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuels, Minority Leader George Oros (R—Cortlandt) today urged the Board of Legislators to provide relief to taxpayers by adopting the gas tax legislation that was recently approved by both the New York State Senate and Assembly.

Legislator Oros submitted the following request:

Date:	May 18, 2006
To:	Chairman William Ryan
	Hon. Clinton I. Young, Chair
	Legislation Committee
From:	George Oros
	Minority Leader
Re:	Gasoline Sales Tax

In view of the recent action by the State Senate and Assembly, wherein they have capped the sales tax on gasoline and have adopted legislation that allows counties to opt as well, on behalf of the Minority Conference, the Board of Legislators is urged to adopt immediately, the appropriate legislation to opt into this program. According to information regarding the state action, counties must pass a local resolution opting in before June 30, 2006. The law will take effect locally, July 1, 2006.

While this particular legislation does not provide the full relief which many of us have sought by eliminating the sales tax entirely from gasoline during the summer driving months, it is clearly a step in the right direction. The Minority Conference urges swift action on this so that the drivers and tax payers of Westchester County can derive this small tax break.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.