Assemblyman Jim Conte (R,C,I,WF-Huntington
Station) today called on the Legislature to pass
several bills that would make home heating fuel
more accessible and affordable this winter.
“The rising cost of gas is having a severe
impact on the budgets of Long Islanders currently
and will only worsen this winter when home heating
costs are factored into the equation,” said
Conte. “To prevent a home heating crisis this
winter, I am calling for the passage of the several
proposals that will make home heating fuel more
accessible and affordable before the end of this
year’s legislative session.”
The proposals that Assemblyman Conte is championing
would provide much needed relief to families and
seniors on Long Island and across the state this
winter in helping them heat their homes or apartments
by:
• Creating a $200 "Heat Tax
Rebate" to help seniors afford the cost of
heating their homes;
• Providing a Personal Income Tax
credit for taxpayers whose home heating costs exceed
5 percent of their New York Adjusted Gross Income.
The amount of the credit equals the total amount
of heating costs that exceed 5 percent of their
New York Adjusted Gross Income;
• Providing up to a $500 tax credit
for the cost of removing an old tank and installing
a new one;
• Providing a tax-credit of 25 percent,
or up to $2,500, to offset the cost of energy-efficient
improvements to a residence; and
• Exempting state sales tax on alternative
fuels used for home heating purposes, including,
but not limited to, wood pellets, corn and ethanol.
“With home heating fuel prices up 63 percent,
Long Island homeowners can expect to pay up to $1,200
more this winter to heat their home,” added
Conte. “To help seniors and families afford
the rising cost of home heating, the Assembly needs
to act now and pass these proposals before the end
of session.”
“Inaction is not an option, homeowners and
renters will need relief this winter from skyrocketing
home heating costs and it’s the job of the
Assembly to deliver this relief sooner rather than
later,” concluded Conte.
