It is not fair for those outside of New York City to bear the brunt of the MTA’s financial woes.

Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing an increase to the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax (MCTMT) from 0.34 percent to 0.5 percent, which is more than $800 million in increased taxes. That plan will disproportionately impact small businesses in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, which already face challenges in the current economic climate.

Moreover, the proposed increase will not improve the transportation infrastructure outside of New York City, which lacks the same level of public transit options as the city. It is unfair to ask residents who do not directly benefit from the MTA to pay for its expenses.

Therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that New York’s counties outside of the five boroughs be excluded from the governor’s proposal. Small businesses in these areas are already struggling, and adding another tax will only make things worse. Instead, the state should focus on reducing regulations and increasing support for these businesses to help them thrive.

It’s worth noting that Hudson Valley residents who make that daily commute into the Big Apple still pay for that service. Round trip peak fare between Beacon and Grand Central is up to $46 per day, not to mention $3.50 per day to park at the station, or to buy round-trip passage on the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry. But businesses in the northern suburbs of the MTA region don’t see the same benefit. Their employees don’t rely on mass transit, but they are part of a system that takes money out of their pockets.

The state should exempt these counties from the proposal and focus on supporting these businesses to help them grow and create jobs.