NYC Council Passes Resolution in Support of State Working Families Tax Credit

The Working Families Tax Credit would give families up to $1,600 per child annually to pay for essentials like groceries, rent and childcare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 13, 2025

New York, NY - The New York City Council voted yesterday to pass resolution (Res. 41) in support of the Working Families Tax Credit (S.2082/A.3474), a bold state proposal to address New York’s affordability crisis, slash child poverty and grow the middle class.

The Working Families Tax Credit, state legislation sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, combines and expands existing tax credits to give families up to $1,600 per child, guarantee a $100 minimum credit per child and pay out the benefit quarterly instead of once per year. It would also be pinned to inflation, so support for families will grow even if costs rise. The City Council resolution was sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés.

The vote comes in the wake of recent research that finds 1 in 4 New York City residents can’t afford essentials, and that the share of New Yorkers in poverty is nearly double the national average.

The Working Families Tax Credit—which is crafted to enable New York to meet its legally-mandated poverty reduction goals and stop working families from leaving the state— would slash child poverty nearly 17% and cut deep child poverty by 22%, according to Policy Engine, which also found the proposal would increase the net income of more than a third of the state’s residents. The bill is also identical to the top recommendation of Governor Kathy Hochul’s expert Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council.

"Ask nearly any working parent in New York, and they’ll tell you the same thing: it’s getting harder to make ends meet. Groceries, rent, childcare, clothes—the cost of raising a family has become so punishingly high that many New Yorkers have no choice but to leave,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “But working-class and middle-class New Yorkers deserve more than the crumbs that fall off the table. My Working Families Tax Credit is the bold policy we need to tackle the affordability crisis, slash child poverty and grow the middle class. I’m grateful to the New York City Council for this resolution, and to Council Member Avilés for her leadership in getting it passed.”

“It is unacceptable that in our nation's wealthiest city, 1 in 4 New Yorkers are unable to afford the essentials. Everyday working class New Yorkers are struggling just to get by. This is unfair, untenable, and unjustifiable. The Working Families Tax Credit will put money back into families' pockets and lift children out of poverty. I am grateful for the partnership of Senator Gounardes and thankful to Council Member Aviles and the City Council for passing this resolution," said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi.

"I'm honored to have sponsored this newly passed resolution in support of Senator Gounardes' Working Families Tax Credit bill. Now is a time, more than ever, that we must be ensuring no child is left to suffer in poverty. New Yorkers are suffering from an affordability crisis and our children are feeling the impacts of that. The Working Families Tax Credit, if passed by the state legislature, will take action to significantly reduce child poverty. I'm proud my colleagues in the City Council have affirmed their support for this program,” said City Council Member Alexa Avilés.

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

Winnie Marion

Communications Director

Council Member Alexa Avilés

WMarion@council.nyc.gov

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