Today, Assemblyman Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson) led a united call todemand that Albany’s “Three Men In A Room” take immediate action to forensically audit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and to completely repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. Ball was joined by Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C, I – Goldens Bridge), Chairman of the Putnam County Legislature Vinny Tamagna, Orange County Legislator Dan Castricone, and Chester Town Supervisor Steve Neuhaus outside the Westchester County Office Building.
Assemblyman Greg Ball is joined by Putnam County Legislature Chairman Vinny Tamagna, Chester Town Supervisor Steve Neuhaus, and Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli outside the Westchester County Office Building in White Plains.
“From Long Island to Albany, our efforts are spreading to demand a repeal of this tax and a forensic accounting of the MTA,” Ball said. “Members of the Long Island delegation have signed on, Westchester and Dutchess counties are moving forward with local resolutions, and Rockland’s County Executive just signed our letter. We are not going to stop until this tax is repealed and until the light of day is cast upon every dark shadow within the walls of the MTA.”
Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and Putnam County Executive Robert J. Bondi each signed the bi-partisan letter prior to the Press Conference.
“Counties in the Hudson Valley are extremely aware of the need for additional revenues to provide essential services,” Bondi said. “However, we do not believe that the MTA is providing enough essential services within Putnam County. Therefore, we stand in protest to this tax and request that if it is not repealed, that the New York State Senate and Assembly join together to eliminate the station maintenance and MTA subsidy that is currently mandated on Hudson Valley Counties.”
Ball has also distributed the letter to the Executives of Westchester, Orange and Dutchess Counties, along with a Resolution for each county’s legislatures to sign on to the letter as well.
Additionally, Ball has built a coalition with assembly members Andrew Raia (R,I,C-East Northport), Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-Smithtown) and newly elected assembly members Michael Montesano (R, C, I – Glen Head) and Dean Murray (R, C – East Patchogue) to unite Long Island with the Hudson Valley against the MTA Payroll Tax.