Speaker Seeks Hiatus on Sales Tax for a Week
The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, striking a campaign-style tone, proposed a mix of modest cost-saving initiatives, spending plans and tax-cutting proposals on Tuesday, saying the measures would help to ignite economic activity in the city.
Among her proposals was one to suspend city sales taxes for one week. The plans were outlined in Ms. Quinn’s State of the City address, in which she detailed her Council priorities for the next fiscal year. It followed the mayor’s annual address of the same name, which he gave in Queens last month.
While some of Ms. Quinn’s proposals were likely to be embraced by the mayor, others were likely to face resistance from his administration and from the State Legislature.
In her 47-minute speech, Ms. Quinn stressed that by doing more with less, city government can cut back as the economy worsens without sacrificing vital city services.
The tax break, she said, would coincide with federal tax rebates as part of the economic stimulus package passed last week by Congress. That plan will provide rebate checks, beginning in May, of $600 for individuals and up to $1,200 for couples filing jointly, with an additional payment of $300 a child for families.
