Westchester to Suspend Sales Tax on Home Heating Costs
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Westchester County officials announced last week that the county portion of the sales tax on home heating sources will be suspended for three months in hopes of giving beleaguered homeowners a break on energy prices amidst skyrocketing costs.
County Executive George Latimer said the 4 percent exemption will be in effect for three months, from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, through the heart of the upcoming winter season. If a homeowner needs to fill a 250-gallon tank with heating oil at about $6 a gallon, for example, there would be a savings of about $60 with each delivery, he said.
“There’s great concern for homeowners right now, looking at their budget, at what’s going to happen with their home heating costs over the course of these next coming months,” Latimer said.
All other types of heating, whether electric, natural gas, propane, coal or wood, will be included in the exemption as well.
The Board of Legislators has already approved the plan. Enabling legislation was passed by the state legislature and signed into law earlier this year giving counties in New York the option to provide the exemption. The remaining 4.375 percent sales tax will remain in effect.
Board of Legislators Chairwoman Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining) said county lawmakers were attracted to the benefits for homeowners because of the possibility of soaring expenses to heat residences this winter.
“That was important to us because we had heard through some trend makers that the cost of home heating might continually go up this winter, coupled with the high inflation rate,” Borgia said. “We know people really needed some relief, and even though this isn’t changing the cost of the fuel or the energy, it is a way to give some measure of relief to anyone that pays their home heating bills.”
Latimer made the announcement last Tuesday outside the Ossining home of Omar Lopez and Grace O’Shaughnessy. With the rising costs of almost everything today, every bit of assistance is helpful, and can make the difference as the holidays and the winter approach, Lopez said.
“It means another Christmas present, it means an additional side during Thanksgiving,” Lopez said. “It means another opportunity for us to be able to have a conversation around the dinner table that’s a little bit less about the pressures of the economic moment and a little bit more about spending time together.”
Landlords and renters are also eligible to receive the break if they pay for the residence’s home heating costs.
The CEO of a major home heating oil company applauded the county’s decision to enact a three-month sales tax moratorium on energy purchases for the home. Robison CEO Dan Singer said that homeowners are likely in for a rough winter because of the expected spike in oil prices and consumers will need the assistance.
“We have heard loud and clear from our customers, and we are doing all we can to soften the blow by offering budget plans and our price capping program where homeowners can lock in rates, but there is no sugar coating that it will be difficult for families this winter,” Singer said.
The exemption is the latest step Westchester officials have taken to try to provide some relief for county residents. During the summer, the county suspended the fares on all Bee-Line bus service from June 1 until Labor Day.
Last week, Latimer also announced that there would be no Bee-Line fares from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until the Sunday that concludes the long holiday weekend. Bee-Line bus commuters will also be able to ride the buses for free for about the last two weeks of December until New Year’s, he said.
The county also invoked a gas tax holiday earlier in the year and put a tuition freeze into effect for Westchester Community College students for the 2022-23 academic year.
“In every one of those decisions and more decisions, we recognize the problem, but more than criticizing, more than using rhetoric we try to act,” Latimer said.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
