The Speaker of the Assembly for sixteen years, Sheldon Silver, was quoted in an Albany Times Union article responding to the speculation that New York’s high taxes are a significant contributing factor as to why people are leaving the state.  His statement:

 

“Do we have evidence that anybody has moved out of the state other than one individual?”

                                               -         Sheldon Silver

 

The Times Union claimed his declaration was an apparent reference to Tom Golisano, the founder of Responsible New York.  Mr. Golisano made a very public move out of New York early in 2009, citing high taxes.  His exit will leave the state $5 million short on expected income tax revenue.

 

Unfortunately for Speaker Silver, Mr. Golisano is not the only one who believes taxes are pushing people to move out of the state.  The Empire Center for New York State Policy published a report, Empire State Exodus: The Mass Migration of New Yorkers to Other States. Find the report here.

 

Some highlights:

 

• From 2000-2008, New York experienced an outflow of 8 percent of its population from the start of the decade.  This translates to 1.5 million people.

 

• Out of all the states in the country, in 2000-2008, New York had the highest loss of residents to other states.  Yes, you read that correctly, we had the highest loss of residents to other states in the country.

 

• The Center cited New York’s high taxes as a factor that must be addressed when accounting for its large migration loss.  Did you know state and local taxes per capita are the nation’s highest, according to the Census Bureau?

 

Speaker Silver, you’ve revealed yourself to either be truly ignorant to the reality of New York’s state of affairs, or in denial.