Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced the passage of legislation she authored that will help local farmers on the cost of transporting their goods to markets across the state. Specifically, the bill would create a tax credit for authorized farm vehicles that pay tolls on the New York State Thruway (A.2414).

“One of the biggest burdens small and medium size farms face is the cost of getting their goods to the markets. With restrictions on the Parkway, farmers are forced to use the Thruway and pay costly tolls, in some cases up to $10,000 a year, “ Assemblymember Didi Barrett said. “This bill creates a tax credit to help them get some of that money back. I hope the Senate will pass this important piece of legislation soon and bring real relief to New York farmers.”

The measure would allow for authorized farm vehicles transporting goods on the New York State Thruway to claim a tax credit equaling 75 percent of Thruway tolls paid during the year. In order to ensure that small and medium size farms are the ones who benefit, the credit is applicable for vehicles up to 26,000 pounds and travel purposes within 150 miles of a taxpayer’s farm.