Over the last several years, more than a half-billion dollars in sales tax revenue was diverted from county governments to the state's coffers. 

County government officials this week said it's time to end the practice. 

Top county officials in New York met this week for their winter convention in suburban Albany as the state budget remains under negotiation. They called for an end to the sales tax diversion that has been in effect since 2019 and has led to $677 million in local sales tax money sent to the state's general fund. 

The money has been used to first cover the cost of the state's Aid to Municipalities program, which has benefitted towns and villages and later to bolster funding for distressed health care facilities. 

County officials argue their municipal governments have needs, too, that require funding from the sales tax. 

“Local tax revenue should stay in the community where it is collected,” said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the president of the New York State County Executives Association and a Republican candidate for congress. “This is money that is meant to support local parks, community colleges, meals for seniors, day care services, 911 programs, and mental health and addiction services, not footing the bill for state and federal responsibilities.”

Revenue from the sales tax has surged in recent months after pandemic restrictions began to ease following a shutdown of many businesses and public gathering spaces.

“Today, the elected leaders of local governments around the state came together to deliver a simple message to Albany: Keep local taxes local,” said New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen Acquario. “It’s time to get our state back to normal, and that means returning to responsible budgeting that keeps local tax revenue in local communities.”