MINORITY CONFERENCE CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF COUNTY SALES TAX ON GASOLINE IMMEDIATE NINE CENTS A GALLON SAVINGS FOR WORKING FAMILIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 2, 2006

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

Minority Leader George Oros (R—Cortlandt) and members of the Board of Legislator’s Minority Conference, County Legislators Ursula LaMotte, Gordon Burrows, Jim Maisano, Bernice Spreckman and Suzanne Swanson, today held a press conference at a gas station in Valhalla to call on County Government to immediately suspend the collection of county sales tax on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel during the upcoming summer months.

“With gasoline prices skyrocketing out of control, an effective and realistic way to provide county taxpayers with immediate relief is to suspend the county’s sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuels,” said Oros. “The county administration suggests sending drivers on a hunt for the county’s cheapest gas prices, but we need a real and substantial solution to the current gas crisis.”

According to the Department of Consumer Protection’s most recent survey, the lowest price for regular gasoline in Westchester County is $2.99 per gallon, but most gas stations average about $3.19.

The Minority Conference plan, if adopted, would immediately save consumers nine cents on every gallon of gas used, or over $75.00 annually.

Legislator Oros noted that sales tax on gasoline is paid per dollar spent, not per gallon pumped. The fact that gasoline prices have doubled means, even if you use the same amount of gasoline, the county collects double the amount of sales tax revenue.

“The prices of these commodities have doubled and as a result so have the sales tax revenue that the county collects,” said Oros. “The County, just in the past month, has reaped a huge windfall and it’s time to give something back to the taxpayer.” Oros noted that most middle class families “rely on their family car to take a vacation or weekend trips this time of year.” While noting that the current price situation needs a long term solution from the state and federal government, Oros stressed that “Westchester County can take a small step right now to provide some relief.”

The spiking prices have also adversely impacted small business such as florists, newspaper deliverers and landscapers.

“These small businesses can’t wait for Albany or Washington to figure something out,” said Oros. The measure proposed by the Republicans would “immediately help the bottom line of these businesses.”

The Minority Conference submitted a draft resolution to the Board of Legislators last week requesting the county eliminate or suspend the collection of County sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuel during the months of June, July, August and September of 2006. The resolution will be placed on the agenda for the May 8th meeting of the Board of Legislators.