In reporting out this cap on gas sales tax in Dutchess County, there are 2 things you need to know. But a really important aspect you need to know about sales tax. A Little Beacon Blog has reported on how much sales tax Beacon gets from these shoppers and eaters, and it’s always complex to get across. Due to a MAJOR sales tax snafu in Orange County reported by MidHudson News, this is easier to explain now. I explain it in the video.

1. This is *not* a cap on the price at the pump. This is a tiny savings on the sales tax of gas put upon us by New York State, that we in Dutchess County get a portion of. The only way we are going to experience this very small savings is when New York State tells the gas stations to change the Dutchess County portion on their Point of Sale system.

2. Republicans in Orange County (Newburgh) rejected the $3 cap on the gas sales because “it was revealed last week that Orange County had illegally overdistributed sales tax revenue to municipalities since County Executive Steve Neuhaus took office in 2014.” This is major. Some Orange County Democrats voted for the cap in the gas sales tax, but the Republicans wanted to keep that money to offset whatever will happen due to the retail sales tax issue, MidHudson News reported.

PS: I misspoke in the video. I meant to say Mayor Lee Kyriacou negotiated a higher sales tax rate that Beacon gets back from Dutchess County. Former Mayor Randy Casale also worked with a rate, but Mayor Kyriacou has boasted of the higher percentage number he got on Beacon’s behalf - to get back a % of our sales tax spent here from Dutchess County. That percentage number remains a mystery. ALBB has not been able to get anyone to reveal what the actual % is. Maybe Mayor Kyriacou will reveal it now.

Take a listen to the video for the explainer. Once you get it, you’ll be able to follow future ALBB sales tax reporting better.

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