Monday, November 9, 2009

Residents and businesses being taxed out

From the NY Post:

While tax-paying New Yorkers are leaving the state in droves for cheaper pastures, Big Apple public-school teacher Katie Strauss (pictured ) is sticking it out for now — even though she’s being nickel and dimed by the government.

Since graduating college two years ago, the 24-year-old has lived in Astoria and earns a little more than $45,000 annually teaching ESL at Flushing International High School.

A hefty portion of her salary goes to Uncle Sam as well as the city and the state.

Because New York has some of the highest taxes and levies, she ends up paying $15,000 a year to the government — or about $41 a day.

“The cost of living is ridiculously high in New York,” Strauss said. “It’s a place like no other place in the world, and you’re paying for that. I just wonder how long I will be able to do that.”


From the NY Post:

John Logue, the owner of Hinsch’s, an ice cream and candy store in Bay Ridge, said his lease requires him to pay half of all the property tax increases. “I am making less money today operating the same business than I did 14 years,” said Logue, 54, who has lived in Bay Ridge his whole life.

His family has owned the store since 1961. Currently, he has seven full-time employees and four part-time workers.

On top of the city and state payroll tax, Social Security and Medicare he pays for employees, Logue said the city also hits him with a slew of permit fees. He recently had to pay $50 to obtain a certificate to collect sales taxes for the city and the state. In the past, it was free. He also pays the city to have a restaurant certificate, an exhaust-system permit and an illuminated-sign permit.

Logue said his water bills have also increased by nearly 50 percent in the last three years. Currently, he pays $1,600 every three months to the city.

“I’m getting to the point where I’m thinking about leaving New York,” he said.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maspeth mom says...

Not only is te teacher paying $41.oo per day to NYS - What she has left of her salary is also taxed when she purchases clothes,shoes gasoline, phone bill, cell phone bill, certain groceries.....

It is crazy we are a taxation nation.

Anonymous said...

She's also paying over $90 per month in union dues.

Anonymous said...

Great place,one of the last old bay ridge businesses.It won't last,the towel heads don;t assimilate...............This city is done!

Zombie Wade Nichols said...

I'm dead and I'm STILL paying taxes!

Unknown said...

Its just crazy that the city puts up all these crappy bus shelters and lets people put vending carts in front of your store. But when you try to get your business to be seen, they then charge you tax for having an illuminated sign. The city really wants small businesses out. If I could convince my family to move with me, I (and my shoppe) would be out in a heart beat

Anonymous said...

Look at the bags under the teacher's eyes. Looks like she is overworked, and deserves a more affordable, relaxed place to live.