MONTGOMERY – The Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Partnership and Orange County Association of Realtors are renewing their efforts to have the MTA payroll tax repealed. The state legislature approved it two years ago as a means of helping to bail out the New York City transportation company.

Now, the three organizations are circulating a petition to their memberships electronically and by mail, as well as asking for signatures at all of their events. “For anyone who thinks that we’ve forgotten about this horrendous tax, this petition drive serves as a resounding reminder that we will continue to fight any way we can to correct one of the most unjust mandates every passed by the State of New York,” said Chamber President John D’Ambrosio.

According to the petition, the state moved to bail out the MTA’s debt by imposing the “now infamous” payroll tax on all businesses and organizations in the MTA service territory, including the Mid-Hudson Valley counties. “While rewarding themselves with raises, the MTA cut services and increased fares, and is happily collecting the payroll taxes paid by employers in Orange, Dutchess and surrounding counties.”

Those other counties include Westchester, Rockland and Putnam.