Capital Region Scene

Senate Republicans oppose extending utility charge

State Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, and his Republican colleagues came together on Tuesday to speak out against the proposed extension of a utility surcharge in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget.

More than $2 billion has been raised from homeowners and businesses with a utility surcharge that was created four years ago during the height of the state's budget crunch. That charge, which National Grid estimates costs an average household $55 a year and $540 for a small business, is set to expire at the end of March 2014.

Arguing that the state needs the $500 million a year generated by this surcharge, Cuomo is proposing extending it for five more years.

Below is a video of Seward explaining why the surcharge needs to end.

A full story on this issue will be in the Thursday issue of the Daily Gazette.

Follow @poozer87 on Twitter.

today's events