Memorandum in Support S.277B (Gounardes)/ A.4022B (Hevesi) - The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy supports and respectfully urges passage of S.277B

For families currently eligible for the ESCC, EITC, or both, the combined credit from the WFTC would be greater or equal to the total of the two credits. [...] The WFTC will allow families with the lowest incomes to receive the highest credit amount by eliminating the income phase-ins, and will be available to immigrant tax- filers with Individual Tax Identification Numbers (currently allowed under the ESCC, but not the EITC). [...] Three of the top 10 cities in the United States with the highest child poverty rates are in New York State: Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. [...] Many more families across the state live just above the poverty line, and struggle to make ends meet; 56% of New York City residents (4.6 million people) had incomes below 200% of the poverty line in 2022. [...] The Act committed the State to reducing child poverty by half over the following decade and established the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC), tasked with monitoring the State’s progress and making policy recommendations to advance the State’s goal.