State Senator Michael Balboni said that the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has added a new check-off option on personal income tax returns, which allows taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to an Alzheimer's Fund via their tax returns.

New York residents have the option to make voluntary contributions to several worthy causes through four special check-off options on their personal income tax returns. The funds include the "Missing and Exploited Children Fund," "Gift for Breast Cancer Research and Education," "Return a Gift to Wildlife," the "Lake Placid Olympic Training Center Fund" and new this year, the "Alzheimer's Fund."

"Alzheimer's Disease is regrettably affecting more and more New Yorkers," Balboni said. "The donations New Yorkers make to the Alzheimer's Fund will help support critical research needed to fund a cure for this terrible disease."

Contributions to the funds must be made in whole dollar amounts and will not decrease the amount of tax owed. Income tax filers who wish to make contributions on their 2000 Resident Income Tax Return will find the check-off options on lines #8-12, Form IT-100; lines #28-32, Form IT-200 and line #54, Form IT-201.

"Since the check-off options were instituted in 1983, New Yorkers have generously and graciously contributed millions of dollars via their tax returns to these worthy causes," Balboni said. "I am proud of the commitment New Yorkers have made to protect their children, their environment and their health. I thank all those who have contributed in past years and encourage all taxpayers currently filing their 2000 state returns to join me in giving to these worthy causes."

Taxpayers with questions about 2000 forms or filing can call the Tax Department's toll-free number, 1-800-CALL-TAX or visit the department's website at www.tax.state.ny.us.

Senator Michael Balboni, member of the Senate Special Task Force on Voter Participation, recently joined other Senate members at a display of new, electronic voting technology and announced that the task force has begun fact-finding visits to local boards of elections around the state.

The special task force, which was created to make the state's election process more accurate and fair, also announced that it would hold its first public forum next month in New York City to hear testimony from election experts, public officials and voters.

"In just a few short weeks, the special task force has already conducted meetings with experts and professionals, reviewed available technology, and laid the groundwork for an ambitious plan to study and review the complex and diverse election processes throughout the state," Balboni said as he toured a display of various styles of futuristic, electronic voting machines at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

The task force already has completed fact-finding visits to local Elections Boards in Schenectady and Greene Counties, interviewing Commissioners and other officials about a broad range of election practices and problems in the existing system. Members will review data from these visits and more than a dozen still to be conducted prior to the New York City forum.

"As these fact-finding visits demonstrate, the special task force is working closely with experts and election professionals to explore existing trouble areas within our election system in an effort to enhance voter confidence and create a more uniform system of voting so that we can prevent the types of problems we have seen on other parts of the country," Balboni said.

Additionally, the task force is researching various technologies that are in use throughout the country and even in some parts of New York to determine if they would help improve voting statewide.

"As a member of the Special Task Force on Voter Participation, I am delighted to have an opportunity to make a difference that will result in more efficient elections and enhance voter confidence in a process that is the hallmark of our democratic system of government," Balboni concluded.

Senator Michael Balboni unveiled a plan to slash energy taxes statewide by nearly a half-billion dollars in an effort to lower energy costs for homeowners and businesses.

Balboni's plan is designed to provide relief from rising fuel bills and provide energy conservation incentives, including a first-ever exemption from state and local sales taxes on energy-saving products like new furnaces, boilers, insulation and windows. The plan also encourages the use of alternative-energy systems that use the sun or new technology such as fuel cells to reduce heating bills long term.

Additionally, the plan would eliminate the energy Gross Receipts Tax for homeowners, thus lowering heating costs and provide $100 million in new tax credits to help low-income New Yorkers pay for heat this winter.

"As the temperature dips, more and more New Yorkers are feeling the sting of rising energy costs," Balboni said. "This plan will help lower fuel bills in the short term and help make New York more energy efficient in the future."

To address the state's critical need for additional energy supply brought on by increasing consumer and business energy demand, Balboni said that the Senate soon plans to unveil new initiatives which would accelerate the state's power plant siting rules and offer additional incentives to increase energy supply.

Balboni's energy savings tax cut plan includes:

* Sales tax exemption for energy efficiency ($125 million) - exempts from state and local sales tax all products designed to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, apartments and commercial and manufacturing businesses, including furnaces, boilers, insulation, weather stripping, new thermostats and alternative energy systems like solar heat and fuel cells. This tax break typically will reduce the cost of these improvements by 8 percent and includes a state reimbursement to local governments for their lost revenue;

* Repeal of residential Gross Receipts Tax ($250 million) - Balboni fought last year for repeal of the GRT energy tax for businesses and a partial reduction for homeowners. This proposal would include residential customers in the complete phase-out by 2005, saving taxpayers $250 million statewide;

* Home Energy Assistance Tax (Credit $100 million) - Balboni proposes to use surplus government assistance funds available through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families to help low income New Yorkers pay their heating bills. The credit would be available through low-income New Yorkers income tax returns and equal 25 percent of a family's state Earned Income Tax Credit or $220 for an eligible family of four; and

* Eliminate the Petroleum Business Tax on commercial heating fuels ($10 million) - the state budget began in 1995 to lower the PBT on commercial heating fuel, used in apartment buildings and commercial properties and usually passed on to consumers in the form of higher business costs. Balboni proposes to eliminate the tax, currently 5 cents per gallon, completely.

To address the state's critical need for additional energy supply brought on by increasing consumer and business energy demand, Balboni said that the Senate soon plans to unveil new initiatives which would accelerate the state's power plan siting rules and offer additional incentives to increase energy supply.

"Soaring fuel prices threaten to raise the cost of home heating by 30 to 50 percent, making it tougher for New York families to stay warm," Balboni said. "This plan is a sensible way to help all New Yorkers make ends meet."