In my opinion, there should be NO PAYROLL TAX aimed to fund the MTA. The people of NY are constantly strong armed into throwing good money after bad into this system. Like any other business, I believe that the MTA should be able to run on the money it generates. If there is a need for more money, it should be on the shoulders of those who use this system and not those who don't. Why should tolls on the bridges be increased to fund the MTA? It is obvious that those who are paying the increased money do not get any benefit from it. Why should workers be saddled with a new tax to fund something that some will not receive any benefit from? This makes about as much sense as instituting a payroll tax to help fund the purchase of new cars for those who wish to travel by motor vehicle.

 

What is your opinion? 

 

From the NY Post....

After the MTA unleashed two massive fare-hike proposals yesterday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said lawmakers were poised to back a business-payroll tax to help bail out the transit agency.

"I think we're in a position to enact the payroll tax," Silver told The Post. "I think its doable on a legislative basis."

Earlier this month, former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch authored a rescue plan that proposed that the first year of revenues from a 0.33 percent payroll tax could be used to drastically reduce - but not eliminate - the 2009 fare hike.

He also suggested tolling the now-free East and Harlem river bridges, a politically murky idea.

Gov. Paterson's office expects to submit a bill on Ravitch's proposals early in the next legislative session, a spokeswoman said.

Fare hikes without funds from a payroll tax would be dire.

Under one plan, a 30-day unlimited MetroCard would cost $103. Another would raise the base cash fare to $3. Transit officials will choose between the two after the public weighs in at eight hearings that begin on Jan. 14.

Under the first proposal, officials evenly applied an increase to every type of fare.

The base MetroCard and cash fare would jump to $2.50.

The unlimited-ride cards and express-bus fares would take the hardest hit in this plan, with 30-day cards reaching $103, 14-day cards $59, seven-day cards $31 and one-day passes $9.50.

The $22 increase on the monthly unlimited MetroCards would cost riders "$264 more a year, for an annual total of $1,236," noted Gene Russianoff, spokesman for the Straphangers Campaign, a transit watchdog.

Under the second proposal, the base cash fare for a single ride on subways and buses will jump to $3, but the cost per ride on a MetroCard will be $2.25.

"The proposal strongly encourages customers to buy a MetroCard," MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin said. "They'll save money and speed the bus trip for fellow riders."

The MTA said it would charge $99 for a 30-day pass, $57 for a 14-day pass and $31 for a seven-day pass.

Express-bus cash fares would rise to $6.25 under the first plan and $6 under the second.

The hike would take effect June 1.