As the state budget talks entered their second week on Feb. 13, New York Democratic Sen. James Skoufis told The Epoch Times that his priorities included further fixes to bail reform, income tax cuts for the middle and working class, and fighting against the proposed payroll mobility tax raise.
Skoufis represents the 42nd Senate district, which encompasses almost all of Orange County except for Montgomery and Newburgh.
He supports Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to further roll back bail reform by removing the “least restrictive conditions” standard, which requires that judges set the least restrictive conditions at bail hearings to reasonably ensure that a defendant returns to court.
“That oftentimes prevents judges from issuing bail when the circumstances demand it, quite frankly,” Skoufis said. “That’s something I’m pushing very hard on to give them that discretion.”
The proposed removal is the third rollback to a sweeping 2019 bail reform that was passed as part of the state budget in 2019. The reform eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies while setting further restrictions on release conditions.
When it comes to income taxes, Skoufis said he would push for lower tax rates for those making less than $300,000 a year while making up for the loss with the increased revenue from the recent tax hikes on millionaires.
In 2021, the state raised taxes on those earning $1 million (or $2 million as a couple) and created new tax brackets for those making more than $5 million and $25 million.
“Orange County residents pay way too much in taxes,” Skoufis said. “My priorities are trying to provide relief and get them tax cuts while making sure that for the taxes they send to Albany, we get our fair share back.”
He supports Hochul’s plan to invest an additional $125 million in pre-K institutions across the state, adding that previous funding has added thousands of pre-K slots in Orange County.
He said he would push back on Hochul’s proposal to stop passing enhanced federal Medicaid dollars under the Affordable Care Act to county governments, with Orange County likely to lose $9.8 million in revenue as a result.
Regional and Local Issues
Aside from statewide issues, Skoufis is also concerned with a regional issue that will impact Orange County: Hochul’s proposed payroll mobility tax hike.The tax is imposed on certain employers and self-employed people within the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) service area, including Orange, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties in the Hudson Valley region.
The proposed rate hike from 0.34 to 0.5 percent is estimated to bring in $800 million; it is part of Hochul’s multi-faceted plan to save the financially troubled MTA.
“I don’t believe there should be any increase outside of New York City,” Skoufis said. “Orange County doesn’t have subways, Orange County doesn’t have MTA buses—there is very little service, and no business should have to be paying this tax—never mind an increased rate.”
He said he is working with several lawmakers outside New York City to push back on the proposed rate hike as a united voice.
At the local level, Skoufis plans to propose a pay raise to Stewart International Airport workers, who had been left out in a previous bill that had raised the pay for other port authority airports workers, he said.
In terms of infrastructure, Skoufis said he would try to get as many Orange County roads and bridges into the state capital plan as possible.
The state is due to pass a budget by Apr. 1.
A third-term state senator, Skoufis was reelected in November to represent the newly drawn 42nd district, which almost has the same boundary line as Orange County. The new district is a major break from his past territory that spanned parts of three counties.
“[Having my district] consolidated into Orange County, it does lend itself for me to be more focused and honed in on Orange County’s specific issues,” Skoufis said. “Now I can take all that energy that was a bit more spread out in previous negotiations and really put it on issues that are specifically impactful to Orange County.”
