ALBANY — Hoping to lock down support for his “tax-free” zones program, Gov. Cuomo has agreed to allow five such zones near City University of New York campuses — one in each borough.
The changes were spelled out yesterday when he unveiled the bill for the program.
The governor initially wanted to allow the zones only in struggling upstate communities.
But downstate lawmakers called the plan unfair to city neighborhoods with jobs woes.
For example, Democratic Senate co-leader Jeff Klein objected to excluding his district in The Bronx, which has some of the highest unemployment rates statewide.
To qualify downstate, a CUNY college must be in a community with the highest poverty rate among colleges in its borough.
The zones would exempt companies and their employees from paying state or local taxes, including income, business, property and payroll taxes, for 10 years.
But after five years, employees or owners making $200,000 or more a year would have to start paying some taxes.