The promise to do so ran into problems trying to get the legalization idea for more revenue with the state lawmakers….
Cuomo is having a rough time these days….
Amazon won’t come and build….
Trump won’t ok a tunnel between NY-NJ….
And the Islanders stadium at Belmont Racetrack has ground breaking pushed back….
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday he was dropping his proposal to legalize marijuana from the proposed state budget.
Cuomo had warned legislative leaders that revenues from legalization of marijuana were needed to help balance a budget with a deficit of more than $3 billion, caused in part by declining revenues. Cuomo estimated a marijuana tax could bring in $300 million over three years.
But the governor said Tuesday he was unable to arrive at a quick resolution of the marijuana issue with state lawmakers.
Cuomo said he no longer is including in his budget proposal revenue from the taxation of marijuana — which was to be dedicated to repair and improvements at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
He said he has replaced it with revenue from a proposed pied-à-terre tax. If approved by the legislature, the surcharge would be applied to New York City condominiums and cooperative apartments worth more than $5 million, most of them owned by residents of other countries that use them for business and pleasure trips.
Cuomo and legislative leaders said the marijuana matter still could be worked out after a budget is passed and before the end of the legislative session on June 19, although the complex issue could be more difficult to settle then…
Image….NYMag.Com