Letters

There Are Many Other Ways Hochul Could Use the Taxpayer Refund Money

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Gov. Hochul’s $3 billion proposed inflation refund to taxpayers, funded out of a surplus of excess tax revenue, is nothing more than a pre-election bribe to grease the wheels of her 2026 re-election campaign. Offering those with income under $150,000 another $300 comes to $25 a month over one year. Offering joint filers $500 with income under $300,000 amounts to $41.66 monthly over one year.

There are better alternatives such as reducing the state sales tax, using the funds as a downpayment toward reducing Albany’s $423.4 billion long-term debt, which represents $21,700 per citizen, or help close the $33 billion shortfall in the MTA’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan.

Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.

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