The nearly 300 delegates to the 2011 Winter Delegate Assembly in Albany threw their support behind a resolution to ensure that the state’s top wage earners continue to pay taxes at the current rate.

The resolution points out that the future of SUNY rests with continued state revenue, and that the proposed Dec. 31, 2011, sunset of the so-called “millionaire’s tax” jeopardizes the funding essential to public higher ed.

The temporary tax hike raises the tax rate over the standard 6.85 percent to 7.85 percent on households earning more than $300,000 a year and to 8.97 percent on households with an annual income over $500,000. The tax rate is projected to generate an additional $4.7 billion a year in state revenue. A Jan. 18 Siena New York Poll of 800 registered voters statewide found that the higher tax rate is favored 55 percent to 42 percent.

Delegates directed th UUP leadership to work with existing coalitions to convey to members of the Legis-lature their support for the higher tax rates. UUP was also urged to call on SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher to help gain successful passage of this vital tax legislation.

Six UUP committees and two task forces jointly endorsed the resolution, which was adopted by acclamation.

In other action, delegates approved three more resolutions by acclamation, including two from the Human and Civil Rights Committee and one from the Committee on Active Retired Membership.

Delegates adopted resolutions that:

• Direct UUP to urge lawmakers to support the New York anti-bullying Healthy Workplace Bill. The resolution pointed out that one in six American workers is subjected to “interpersonal mistreatment, harassment and psychological violence (that) creates an abusive workplace and affects the targeted person’s health.”

• Urge UUP to use all procedures at its disposal to guarantee that individuals involved in long-term partnerships or same-sex marriages have equal access to negotiated benefits, such as health care and prescription drug coverage.

• Commend the groundbreaking research on elder abuse by Art Mason, director of Lifespan of Greater Rochester. The group’s comprehensive study of elder abuse in New York’s 57 counties provides key baseline data for future research on the growing unreported and understated problem of elder abuse.

— Karen L. Mattison