News

19
Apr
1999
State Government Taxes Per Capita, 1998 Rank State Amt. Rank State Amt. 1 Connecticut $2,869 27 West Virginia $1,663 2 Delaware 2,665 28 Indiana 1,652 3 Hawaii 2,662 29 Illinois 1,641 4 Minnesota 2,434 30 Vermont 1,621 5 Massachuse 2,357 31 Arkansas 1,598 6 Michigan 2,210 32 Nebraska 1,584 7 Wisconsin 2,135 33 Oklahoma 1,584 8 Washington 2,075 34 Mississippi 1,578 9 California 2,073 35 Ohio 1,574 10 New Mexico 2,058 36 Virginia 1,552 11 NEW YORK $1,989 37 Oregon 1,523 12 Alaska 1,932 38 Georgia 1,517 13 New Jersey 1,923 39 Montana 1,513 14 Maine 1,905 40 Missouri 1,512 15 Nevada 1,848 41 Florida 1,509 16 North 1,838 42 Arizona 1,489 17 Utah 1,828 43 Colorado 1,485 18 Kentucky 1,807 44 South 1,482 19 Rhode 1,805 45 Louisiana 1,392 20 Maryland 1,790 46 Alabama 1,318 21 Wyoming 1,779 47 Tennessee 1,288 22 Kansas 1,768 48 Texas 1,246 23 Pennsylvani 1,719 49 South 1,129 24 North 1,690 50 New 851 25 Iowa 1,678 U
19
Apr
1999
ALBANY—The tax burden imposed by New York State government rose more than the inflation rate in 1998, but other states increased tax collections more, according to statistics the U.S. Census Bureau released on the Internet today. The result was a further improvement in New York's relative state-tax burden, from 15
15
Apr
1999
One major New York State employer is reporting good news in the state's ongoing competition with other states and countries for jobs. In a March 31 news release, Oneida Ltd. announced that a program begun in January to increase productivity had exceeded expectations. "We now have the flexibility to close our higher-cost manufacturing facility in Canada and reallocate that production to more efficient, lower-cost sites in New York and Mexico," Peter J
15
Apr
1999
The Business Council and three of its members will be honored for their continued support for women in business in New York State. Price Chopper, Bellevue Women's Hospital, Capital District Physician's Health Plan, and The Business Council will be recognized at an April 27 luncheon sponsored by Enterprising Women of New York
15
Apr
1999
Business organizations in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse have unveiled Advance Upstate New York, a new effort to bolster the upstate economy.The three groups are seeking legislative action on four issues they consider barriers to economic growth upstate. Specifically, they are seeking: Repeal of the gross receipts tax on utilities to reduce New York's high energy costs
15
Apr
1999
The Business Council has launched a new campaign to remind lawmakers that drastic increases in state government spending would imperil New York's economy. In a briefing paper released April 8, The Council warned that an unaffordable increase in state spending this year could lead to "the return of the disaster years" like those that brought huge tax increases and drastic funding cutbacks throughout the early 1990s
15
Apr
1999
The Business Council is strongly supporting a new bill that would enact two critical reforms to the state's workers' compensation law. The bill sponsored by Senator James Alesi (R-Rochester) and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Buffalo) would: Deny workers' comp claims if the injury or occupational disease was sustained by an employee during the commission of any illegal act
15
Apr
1999
The Business Council is asking its members to review a new proposal to enact state tax credits for construction and renovation of "green" buildings. The bill, which was proposed April 9 by Governor Pataki, is designed to encourage the environmentally friendly construction and renovation of commercial office and retail buildings, residential buildings with 12 or more units, and buildings to be used for "public assembly
15
Apr
1999
There have been several signs in Albany in recent weeks to suggest that momentum for tort reform may be growing. The New York State Bar Association April 10 voted to continue its opposition to tort reform-but not before a minority of its members voiced strong dissent. The Corporate Counsel and Municipal Law sections of the association supported some reforms advanced by New Yorkers for Civil Justice Reform, a coalition that includes The Council and groups representing municipalities, nonprofit groups, and associations of physicians, architects, farmers, and many others
08
Apr
1999
ALBANY—An unaffordable increase in state spending this year could lead to "the return of the disaster years" like those that brought huge tax increases and drastic funding cutbacks throughout the early 1990s, The Business Council of New York State said in a briefing paper released today