West Hudson Valley News

Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) addressed New York's current tax climate during a press conference on National Tax Day, alongside members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences. The focus was on the state's economic performance and outlook, as indicated in the 2024 Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index.

The report ranked New York 29th in economic performance and 50th in economic outlook on a scale of one to 50. Maher emphasized the need for collaboration among lawmakers at both the state and local levels to improve the economic status of the state and work with economic representatives. He highlighted the burden placed on New Yorkers by high taxes, leading many residents to relocate to neighboring states due to economic instability.

"New York state has an opportunity to change our tax climate and make it a more affordable place to live. It is the highest-taxed state in the union. Our state consistently ranks dead last in economic outlook, but there are steps we can take on the state and local level right now to fix that," said Maher.

Maher further stressed the importance of easing the tax burden on residents, promoting transparency in spending, and fostering a more business-friendly environment as achievable goals for New York to strive towards.