More join MTA tax lawsuit

The list of municipalities and counties joining in the lawsuit brought against the Metropolitan Transit Authority over the payroll tax is growing every day.

The tax ”“ 34 cents on every $100 of payroll in the 12 counties served by the public agency ”“ was imposed by the state Legislature as part of a financial bailout of the MTA.

Those with the biggest argument against the tax are the so-called “quarter pounder” counties ”“ Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland. Each of their MTA representatives is allowed only a quarter of a vote. All four voted against the tax, “but it was really an exercise in futility,” said Susan Metzger, who represents Orange County.

With dozens of business owners and chamber presidents railing against the tax, calling it a business killer, several towns in Orange  have joined in Nassau County”™s lawsuit against the MTA.  Rockland County filed its own separate lawsuit Aug. 15.

John Testa, a Westchester legislator and former mayor of Peekskill, along with representatives from Putnam have encouraged County Executive Robert Astorino to join the lawsuit. Astorino, noting Westchester is the highest-taxed county in the U.S., told the media it was “a good first step,” despite the fact that the county is also one of the largest recipients of MTA services.

The MTA already receives millions of dollars from the 12 counties it has imposed the mobility tax on and has seen far less in revenue than anticipated as a result of putting the tax into effect in March.