News

12
Apr
2006
New York's combined state and local sales tax rates range from 7 percent to 9.5 percent, among the highest rates in the nation, Comptroller Alan Hevesi's office found in a new report on local government sales tax. "Sales tax rates in New York State are much higher than the national average," Hevesi said
07
Apr
2006
The Business Council has launched a new Web-based electronic-advocacy campaign to show lawmakers the strong statewide opposition to numerous health insurance mandate proposals circulating in Albany. “These bills do nothing to help the real problem—the overall cost of health insurance,” the introduction says
03
Apr
2006
New Yorkers' spending on public schools is second-highest in the country, according to new statistics published by the U.S. Census Bureau. As of 2003-04, New York schools spent an average of $12,930 per pupil. That was 56 percent above the national average of $8,287, and virtually tied with New Jersey, which spent $12,981
29
Mar
2006
  Honorable Sheldon E. Silver Speaker of the Assembly State Capitol Albany, New York 12248 Dear Speaker Silver: Please don’t tell me this is the best Albany can do. At your insistence, and that of the Democratic majority of the Assembly, the budget the Legislature is preparing to enact will do little, if anything, to create jobs and build prosperity in our state
29
Mar
2006
ALBANY—The budget that the Legislature is preparing to enact does little, if anything, to create jobs and build prosperity across New York State, Business Council President and CEO Daniel B. Walsh told Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in a March 29 letter. “Please don’t tell me this is the best Albany can do,” Walsh said in his letter, which criticized the state Assembly majority and its Upstate members for their role in crafting a budget that significantly increases spending and rejects broad-based business tax-cut proposals advanced by Governor Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
28
Mar
2006
New York State must contain spending, reduce taxes, and trim other infamously high business costs in to help the state's small businesses survive and prosper, two top candidates for the Republican nomination for governor told small business leaders at The Business Council's annual Small Business Day Tuesday
26
Mar
2006
Respondents to new Business Council survey also say other high costs, especially electricity, workers' comp, and health insurance, must be reduced  ALBANY—New York State employers overwhelmingly agree that New York's taxes undermine their ability to compete and prosper here, a new Business Council survey of employers shows
17
Mar
2006
The Business Council of New York State has become a partner of World Community Grid, which makes spare computer processing power available for important research projects. Joining the IBM Corporation and a group of more than 140 companies, associations, foundations and academic institutions, the Council will encourage its members and staff to contribute their idle PC time to assist humanitarian research by joining World Community Grid at www
15
Mar
2006
New York State is a net beneficiary of globalization and free trade, a new report by the Organization for International Investment (OFII) shows. “U.S. subsidiaries in New York have consistently supported a significant number of jobs in the state,” the OFFI says on its Web site
15
Mar
2006
New York's annual budget growth would be limited under a constitutional amendment proposed by state Senator Raymond Meier (R-Oneida County) and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Erie County). "The amendment would encourage fiscal discipline, make New York more business-friendly, and hold the line on increases in taxes and fees," a joint press release from the legislators' offices said