The Legislature approved a state budget that cuts taxes $1.6 billion this year and $2.5 billion next year, and rejects nearly $1 billion in tax increases the governor wanted to impose. The budget targets tax relief for those who need it most, namely working families, homeowners, seniors, and job-creating businesses.

Relief from high property taxes

The Legislature’s budget provides $756 million in property tax rebates to homeowners across the state. The budget also provides a cost of living adjustment to Enhanced STAR, which will save eligible seniors an additional $72 million.

Elimination of sales tax on clothing

Under the budget agreed to by the Assembly and the Senate, New Yorkers saw the state’s four percent sales tax on clothing and footwear under $110 eliminated on April 1st. This initiative will provide substantial savings to working families on the purchase of essential clothing items, as well as help small retail businesses compete with stores in neighboring states that already exempt clothing purchases from their sales tax. Chautauqua County has also eliminated its share of the sales tax on clothing and footwear under $110, saving families even more.

The Empire State Child Tax Credit

The Legislature’s budget contains $600 million in tax relief for New York families through a new child tax credit. The child tax credit is a maximum benefit of $330 for children between the ages of 4 and 17. It will allow families to apply their automatic tax savings to not only educational expenses, but any of the costs that come with raising children - such as food, clothing, and child care.

Reducing Income Taxes

The Legislature also eliminated the marriage penalty tax, which will save NYS married couples $41 million annually when fully phased in.

Cutting Business Taxes

To help businesses grow and create jobs, the budget:

• Eliminates the S-Corporation Rate Differential, saving businesses $40 million
• Increases the Vendor Credit for sales taxes, saving business $54 million
• Enacts special Empire Zone Credits worth $50 million

Capping State and Local Gasoline Taxes

A new law caps sales tax on gas at 8 cents per gallon. For example, with gas prices at $3 per gallon, the cap will reduce the tax on gas by approximately 4 cents per gallon.

Under this new law, local governments across the state can pass their own legislation to cap local sales taxes on gasoline, which Chautauqua County has done. The gas tax cap took effect on June 1 for the state sales tax and July 1 for local sales taxes.

Uncapped Gas Wells - This new law would require any person or company selling real property on which uncapped natural gas wells are situated to inform a potential buyer of the existence of the wells prior to entering a contract for sale of the property. Currently in New York State, there is no requirement for a person or company selling property to disclose to the potential buyer if there are uncapped natural gas wells on the property. Uncapped gas wells can pose safety and environmental issues that should be addressed by the property owner. Capping natural gas wells could cost the new property owner thousands of dollars in unforeseen costs associated with the purchase of the property and should be disclosed to the buyer prior to contract.

Westfield Parkland Exchange - This law would authorize the Village of Westfield to exchange a portion of Town parkland with property owned by the First Presbyterian Church of Westfield. Recently, the First Presbyterian Church discovered that the property to its eastern side was owned not by the church but by the Village of Westfield. Since the Church owns a parcel of land which juts in the Village’s Moore Park that has been used as part of the park, both entities agreed to an exchange of parcels. The end result would be a slight increase in the size of the park.

Concord Grape Heritage Region - The Lake Erie Concord grape region and its communities have acquired a distinct and unique legacy which has become an integral part of New York’s history and identity. This new law calls for a system of recognition and partnership to further its protection, beneficial enjoyment and sustainable economic viability as it designates the Lake Erie Concord grape region in Chautauqua County a state designated heritage area. This designation will help the grape and wine industry and their related communities build upon their heritage as the oldest and largest Concord grape area in the world through tourism, culinary tours and other agribusiness related opportunities. As the Concord grape belt traverses New York and Pennsylvania, the change in law also authorizes New York’s heritage area to collaborate with its adjacent counterpart for the benefit of the entire Concord grape belt region.

City of Dunkirk - This new law will allow the City of Dunkirk and the Dunkirk City School District to create a temporary partial real property tax exemption program for new home construction within the city and school district. The City of Dunkirk desires to encourage the construction of new homes on many unused lots within the city by allowing a temporary partial real property tax exemption on new construction. The temporary tax relief would allow the city to compete with neighboring suburbs for such new construction. The Dunkirk City School District has also requested to be included in providing the partial exemption.

Laurel Run was created in 1997 by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling in honor of their oldest daughter, who has Down syndrome. The event seeks to raise public awareness of people with disabilities by providing an opportunity for them to participate in a fun, community-wide event alongside their non-disabled peers. Funds raised through Laurel Run support important programs at the Resource Center, including disability awareness and prevention programs in area schools, and employment and work training opportunities for adults with disabilities in Chautauqua County.

Assemblyman Parment helped The Resource Center kick off its 10th annual Laurel Run by participating in the opening ceremonies July 14 in Jamestown. Again this year, he joined Resource Center employees Marla Gressley and Bruce Main in running the first leg of the Jamestown-to-Dunkirk relay run.