Ceretto joins Kolb to oppose extension of utility tax

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, joined Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb, R-C-I-Canandaigua, fellow members of the Assembly Minority Conference, and business leaders from across the state Monday at a press conference to oppose the proposed extension of the temporary 18-A tax on utilities. Ceretto said this tax adds $2.5 billion onto the backs of working class families through electric and gas bills.

The utility tax is set to expire on March 31, 2014. The extension of this tax was unexpected, he said, and would be disastrous for both working class families and energy providers.

"The temporary utility tax was designed to be just that - temporary. Extending this tax is unnecessary and will only take more money from the pockets of families who are struggling through a weak economy," Ceretto said. "We need to let this tax expire so that we can give families more wiggle room in their budgets to save for their children's college or pay off their mortgages."