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Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 2:17pm EDT
Health care costs #1 concern for businesses, Buiness Council survey says
The Business Review (Albany)

Health care costs remain the top concern of New York businesses, according to a survey published today.

The Business Council of New York State Inc. reported Wednesday that its members “overwhelmingly” said health care was their biggest worry when it came to costs of doing business—even with (or maybe because of) this year’s federal health care overhaul.

Employers cited health care as their top concern in previous surveys done in 2006 and 2008. Forty percent said it was the most important issue for the Business Council to focus on; 70 percent ranked it in the top two.

About 300 Business Council members responded to the survey. The Albany-based lobby has 3,000 members, including many of the state’s largest employers.

The survey, done in June, asked employers to rank five areas of concern: health care, business taxes, energy costs, local property taxes and state personal income taxes.

This year, energy costs dropped from the second-greatest concern down to fourth place. The drop bumped up state business taxes to the No. 2 concern of employers, followed by property taxes, which are 80 percent above the national average.

In both 2008 and 2010, state taxes on individuals ranked in last place...................>>>>......................>>>>........................http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2010/08/16/daily14.html?surround=lfn

Healthcare costs a concern for businesses....they dont even have to offer it.....and employees should see their healthinsurance as part of their
wages when broken down.......