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The Chronicle > News
Updated: Friday, September 16, 2005
State senator calls for gas-price relief




Cornwall-on-Hudson —Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) has called for a cap on the state sales tax on gas to provide immediate price relief to motorists.

He also called for the use of already accumulated gas taxes to help seniors stay warm this winter.

"Soaring gas prices have also generated an unexpected tax windfall from all the increased sales," he said. "We should be using this extra revenue to help the people who need it most."

This week, the State Senate will propose legislation to roll back the gas tax and replace it with a fixed state-local levy, providing motorists immediate savings up to eight to 10 cents per gallon on fuel purchased at more than $2 per gallon. Unlike the existing tax, the new levy would not rise as prices increase.

The bill would also create a new "Senior Heat" program, which will provide direct, one-time, rebate checks of $100 or more to assist at least 640,000 New York seniors eligible for the Enhanced STAR property tax program, which is available to seniors 65 and older who earn under $65,000 per year.

In Orange County, approximately 11,910 seniors would be eligible for the rebate. The program would be funded with revenues from the gas tax windfall, now projected at $42 million, but estimated to grow to $100 million or more by the end of the fiscal year.


Senator Larkin said the Senate would also soon unveil proposals aimed at reducing New York's long-term dependence on foreign oil.