MTA, NY Pols Fire Off on Court Decision Striking Down Key Transportation Tax

(New York, NY – WNYC) When news broke last night that a New York Supreme Court Justice had struck down a crucial transportation tax, the NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued a tart remark that included a promise to “vigorously appeal today’s ruling.”

Then the authority’s financial officers had overnight to contemplate the prospect of having a $1.2 billion hole blasted into their annual budget if the ruling is upheld.

That could not have produced sweet dreams. Instead, it prompted the authority to send forth a more robust denunciation of Justice R. Bruce Cozzens Jr.’s finding that the tax, collected from 12 counties in and around New York City served by the NY MTA, was levied in a way that violated the state constitution.

MTA head, Joe Lhota said, ”the ruling is flawed as well as erroneous.” He added the lawsuit also contests four other dedicated taxes, totaling $1.8 billion peryear. ”The payroll mobility tax drives the entire economy of New York. Without the MTA, New York would choke on traffic,” he warned. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://transportationnation.org/2012/08/23/cuomo-ny-mta-fire-back-at-court-decision-striking-down-key-transportation-tax/