This week, Senator Bill Larkin reports that the New York State Senate has passed legislation (S.7193-A) that gives counties across the state the choice of either eliminating or keeping the local share of sales tax on clothing and shoe purchases under $110 dollars.

"The state budget we just adopted eliminates the 4 percent state sales tax on clothing and shoe purchases under $110 dollars," said Senator Larkin. "This was one of our goals to help consumers and make New York State more competitive with other border states that have no state sales tax on these items. This legislation gives local governments the option to also eliminate the local county share of the sales tax."

Under current law, if a municipality voted to eliminate the local sales tax share, it would not be effective until March 1, 2007. This bill, however, states that if a local government passed a resolution by May 15, 2006, the local sales tax would be eliminated by June 1, 2006.

In the past, Orange and Ulster Counties have not opted to eliminate the local sales tax on clothing and shoes under $110 when the state has offered tax-free weeks. The Orange County sales tax is 4 1/8 percent; Ulster County’s sales tax is 4 percent.

The bill will be sent to the Governor for his consideration.