ELMIRA New York State Electric and Gas customers are getting notices included in their monthly bills about higher state utility taxes, according to state Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, who criticized the tax hike.
The raises in utility taxes, which took effect July 1, were included in the 2009-2010 state budget.
The tax hike amounts to about 2 percent, and will cost the average upstate New York family about $40 annually, according to Winner. It will also affect businesses.
The hike was part of about $8 billion in new taxes and fees included in the budget, Winner said.
Utility providers are now required to collect a 1 percent "conservation assessment," and a tax to fund the Public Service Commission - which regulates the state's utilities - was increased to 1 percent, according to published reports.
Both increases are slated to be in effect through 2014 and should raise more than $2.2 billion for the state's general fund, according to Winner.
No comments:
Post a Comment