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Hochul’s approval ratings improve slightly but majority of voters seek new leadership in latest Siena College Poll
ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled her first proposal for the 2025 State of the State agenda, introducing the state’s first-ever Inflation Refund to address rising living costs.
The plan, which she announced from inside a grocery store on Tuesday, Dec. 10, would allocate approximately $3 billion in direct payments to 8.6 million New York taxpayers, providing financial relief amid high inflation.
The Inflation Refund, funded by surplus sales tax revenue, would distribute $300 payments to individual taxpayers earning up to $150,000 annually and $500 to joint filers with incomes up to $300,000. Governor Hochul emphasized that the payments aim to alleviate stress for families struggling with rising grocery and household expenses.
“This money can stay in the state, or it can go back to New Yorkers — I’m on the side of New Yorkers,” Hochul said during a grocery store visit with a Capital Region resident. She highlighted the burden of rising costs, including items like milk, eggs, and other essentials, which have strained family budgets.