Thread: High Taxes, Cost of Living Blamed on NY Exodus

High Taxes, Cost of Living Blamed on NY Exodus

By Jon E. Dougherty at 3:34 pm Eastern

(Newsroom America) -- A new report blames high taxes and an ever-increasing cost of living as the primary reasons why New York lost 1.6 million residents over the past decade.

The loss of population is "the ultimate barometer of New York's attractiveness as a place to work, live and do business," said E.J. McMahon, co-author of the report by the Empire Center for State Policy. "It's the ultimate indication that we've been doing things wrong."

It's the second consecutive decade that New York has led all the states in the percentage of residents leaving for other states.

MyFox New York reported that the Tax Foundation ranked New York highest in the nation in the combined state and local tax burden in 2008.

"You can't suck every penny out of people and expect them to remain in New York," small-business lobbyist Mike Durant told the local news affiliate, adding that New York has also "consistently ranked worst or in the top three worst in business climate."

Since 1960, New York has lost 7.3 million residents to other states -- a net loss of 2.5 million people after adding in an influx of 4.8 million new immigrants, said the study.

http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/15 ... xodus.html