NEW WINDSOR – The MTA payroll tax and mandate relief topped the discussion among members of the Mid-Hudson’s state legislature delegation and members of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.  The officials, along with New York Power Authority chief Gil Quiniones, briefed the business people at an Orange County breakfast session.

The elimination of the tax for most small businesses was one item from last year lauded by Cuomo, but it wasn't enough, according to Chamber of Commerce President John D'Ambrosio.

"It isn't going to be a victory, and we're going to keep fighting, until our municipalities and our non-profits are included in that exemption," D’Ambrosio said.

State Senator William Larkin (R Cornwall-on-Hudson) said both houses had put together 75 mandate relief related issues targeting public and business communities, but the governor has shown hesitancy, telling the senator that he plans to wait until budget time.

"[Cuomo] said, 'I don't want to pass mandate relief just to say look what we did…what if the 75 don't work?' Ten work in White Plains; five work in Buffalo; let's sit down and let's make it happen," said Larkin.

State Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun (R Blooming Grove) told the Chamber that the pension system is the biggest culprit driving up costs in the state. While she said she wasn't convinced that moving to a Tier 6 pension, as the governor suggests in his agenda, was the right move, Calhoun postulated that it was a system in need of reform.

"We need to find a way to move to, if not a hybrid system, we give everyone what they're entitled to and move forward in a partially defined contribution system. Otherwise it's going to be 30 years from and we'll be talking about the same things," she said.

On the MTA tax, Calhoun pointed out that the reduced $250 million came out of the state, not the MTA, which needs a "total revamping. You need to really look at where they are at, and where the fraud and abuse is occurring," she said.