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| NYSUT: Progressive tax a "genuine solution to a genuine problem" March 15, 2005 See also: NYSUT Legislative Action page ALBANY, N.Y. March 15, 2005 - Nearly 800 volunteer lobbyists from New York State United Teachers called on state leaders today to fully fund the court's order in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case by reforming New York's state income tax structure - a move that could raise between $2 billion and $7.7 billion in new revenue. "This is a genuine solution to a genuine problem," said NYSUT President Thomas Y. Hobart Jr. "A more fair and more progressive income tax structure is the most sensible way to raise the revenues necessary for a statewide solution to CFE." In addition to discussions on the K-12 education budget, the 800 grassroots lobbyists also pressed lawmakers to dramatically increase funding to the State University and City University systems. The centerpiece of NYSUT's proposal is a recommendation to replace New York's current tax structure with its 1972 brackets, adjusted to reflect changes in the cost of living over the last 33 years. Doing so would give 95 percent of New Yorkers a tax cut, while raising $7.7 billion more in revenue, the union said. "These reforms would ensure that the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share in state and local taxes," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan B. Lubin. "Here's an option that would give 95 percent of all New Yorkers a tax cut while the state would collect billions of dollars more for education. What's wrong with that? "Restoring a fair and progressive tax structure is a better choice than reducing funding for education and health care and shifting more of the tax burden to local property taxes," Lubin added. NYSUT is also proposing that state leaders raise $1 billion by closing corporate tax loopholes, including one that allows multi-state corporations to use inter-subsidiary transactions to move income to states or countries where that income is not taxable. The union is also backing other structural reforms that, together, could bring in some $2.2 billion more in additional state revenue. Lubin said the 500,000-member union's "lobby day" comes at a key moment in the delicate negotiations between the Governor and Legislature over the state budget. As leaders meet and work toward the April 1 state budget deadline, teachers and other school employees met with rank-and-file lawmakers to detail the program cuts, layoffs and large property tax increases proposed in many parts of the state. They stressed the impact that years of inadequate state funding - as demonstrated in the CFE case - have had on their school districts and children who have been denied access to a sound basic education, Lubin said. Lubin said steep increases in fixed costs for health insurance, energy costs and retirement benefits, as well as programs to help students meet the Regents' standards, are squeezing school districts. Districts such as Oswego and Niagara Falls, for example, are already proposing significant layoffs. "While the Governor's proposed $526 million increase is a solid start, it's a long way from being enough to meet the Court of Appeals' mandate, and it's even farther from enough to ensure that districts can continue the academic programs students need and keep property taxes in check," Lubin said. Volunteer lobbyists from public universities and colleges also pressed lawmakers for increased support. SUNY and CUNY are both facing a faculty crunch, Lubin said. Lubin noted that SUNY enrollment, for example, has increased by 17,500 students since 1998 - without commensurate increases in full-time faculty. "That's like adding three new colleges to the system without hiring any full-time faculty," Lubin said. "The campuses can't offer enough courses, and the courses they do offer are overcrowded. Students are paying more and getting less." He said the Committee of 100 members urged the Legislature to provide funding for 225 new full-time faculty positions, increase aid to community colleges, and provide a Diversity Initiative to help recruit outstanding faculty from underrepresented groups. NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 500,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. |
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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