Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Prepare to pay more for everything

From the NY Times:

By a 37 to 10 vote, the New York City Council on Monday called on the State Legislature to raise the city’s share of the sales tax to 4.5 percent from 4 percent, a move that is expected to raise $518 million in the fiscal year that starts next month and help alleviate some of the city’s mounting fiscal pressures.

If Albany goes along with the proposal, which Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has described as essential, the sales tax in the five boroughs would rise to 8.875 percent from 8.375 percent. (The state’s sales tax is 4 percent, and the city, as part of the area served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, pays a Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District surcharge of 0.375 percent.)

The bill also ends the sales-tax exemption on distribution of energy bought from energy service companies, but maintains the exemption on clothing and footwear under $110.

14 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

Will someone please explain to me sales tax on take-out food?

I recently bought a slice of pizza to go for $2.25 and they charged me sales tax. Most pizzerias don't charge sales tax. Chinese take-outs usually do.

What's the story here?

Anonymous said...

theres sales tax on all items sold whether u eat in or take out you are still purchasing an item

georgetheatheist said...

A slice of pizza costing $2.25 has the sales tax included?

Isn't there supposed to be a sign somewhere on the premises that that's what's being done? I never see any sign like that.

Anonymous said...

its a way for the owner to make more money he just blames it on the increase in taxes and 90 % of the people will accept it and become accustomed to it and he pockets that profit what pizaa place was it was it in maspeth

Anonymous said...

Hey leave the poor pizza guy alone. Often restaurants simply posted a price that included tax.

Fees, additional taxes, more fees, more taxes and a host of other government costs have made making any profit almost impossible so many restaurants not have a price and do what they are required to do, add tax.

Blame the socialists not the poor guy slinging dough.

Anonymous said...

Let's hope the senate stays in disarray until the end of the session so they can't approve this....

Anonymous said...

SOMEONE needs to pay for those massive development projects.

Can't be the developers - they are stuck with the $10,000 Amex bill their daughters run up as they go a-whoreing on spring break.

Anonymous said...

Tweeding programs don't come cheap either...

Anonymous said...

The government has to tax poverty--it is the only plentiful thing lately.

Anonymous said...

how about stop spending, building schools and giving yourself raises.

Anonymous said...

Collect the sales tax from Chinese businesses who are notorious for not charging their own!

"I no pay taa (tax)", I once heard a Chinese woman say to an "occidental" shopkeeper when he asked her for it!

The elusive cash economy of Flushing still defies detection by the tax authorities.

Anonymous said...

"George"...maybe it's a delivery charge...
self delivery from hand to mouth.

I can't figure it out either.

Taxpayer said...

What this economy needs to get stimulated into revival is to be taxed down to the final penny.

The only proper decision maker for spending is an elected official.

If additional money needs to be spent, it has to be taken from those who produce or earn.

This is good. Shaddup.

Anonymous said...

I could have had a Walmart in Rego Park and pay less today. No the local merchants could not compete, remeber? Now they closed their stores and we have to contend with another Home Depot going up instead? So tax us and tax us more - soon no one will be left in Queens.