NY Commuter Tax Plan Decried by NJ GOP Lawmakers

New Jersey Republican Senators representing districts with large numbers of New York City commuters have fired off a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressing their strong opposition to any effort to restore a .45% income tax on New Jersey commuters working in New York City. The proposal to bring back the "commuter tax," which was abolished in 2000, has been floated by Manhattan Borough President and 2013 Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer.

Proceeds from the levy would be used to bail out the long-dysfunctional Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

In their letter, GOP Senators Tom Kean, Jr., Kevin O'Toole, Anthony Bucco, Kip Bateman, Jennifer Beck, Gerry Cardinale, Joe Kyrillos, Joe Pennacchio write, “As New Jersey state Senators representing large numbers of constituents who commute to New York City each day for their jobs, we are alarmed at recent comments made by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer proposing to reinstate a .45% income tax on non-city residents working in the five boroughs. We respectfully request that you oppose any and all efforts to restore this punitive levy. The tens of thousands of New Jersey residents that commute each day pump millions of dollars into New York City's economy. These workers are a net benefit to city coffers; paying income taxes to the city and state of New York without availing themselves of most city services that are used by residents. Balancing the city's budget on the backs of these commuters is both unjust and shortsighted.”