99 NEWS FOR THURSDAY, 9/15/11

ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY TAX HIKE PROJECTION FOR 2012 NOW LESS THAN 8 PERCENT--Administrator Karen St.Hilaire told an audience of about 20 people at Louisville Fire Hall Wednesday the scenario for 2012 has improved a little, and that staff are not done bringing down the spending plan as far as they can. The original draft had a hike of about 30 percent; it stood at 9.5 for a time until the latest draft unveiled Wednesday. Legislators are considering going over the 2-percent state tax cap. St.Hilaire says she spoke with State Senate Finance Committee staff last week and showed them the county has its fiscal house in order, it has cut to the bone, and more. Finance Committee Member and local Senator Joe Griffo and Senator Patty Ritchie are against the county getting home rule legislation that would allow it to raise sales tax by one percent.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY...

BRASHER SUPERVISOR JIM DAWSON DISTRIBUTING RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE MASSENA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO ALLOW FOR COMMERCIAL JETS, SAYS CANADIAN MARKET WILL BRING PEOPLE, AND THEREFORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

POTSDAM TOWN SUPERVISOR MARIE REGAN SAYS STAYING IN THE 2-PERCENT TAX CAP NEXT YEAR WILL BE HARD, WITH A 27-PERCENT HIKE IN RETIREMENT COSTS, HIGHER HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS, AND A 96 PERCENT EQUALIZATION RATE

NORWOOD MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE A GOLF CART AND BEER IN POTSDAM, 26-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS AMBERMAN ARRESTED FOR FELONY DWI, FELONY AUO, AND FELONY GRAND THEFT AUTO PLUS FOUR OTHER COUNTS. HE WAS ARRAIGNED AND JAILED, POSTED 500 DOLLARS BAIL AND RELEASED UNTIL A POTSDAM VILLAGE COURT DATE.

SUNY POTSDAM AND CLARKSON UNVEIL PARTNERSHIP WITH ZIPCAR, PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTION. ANNOUNCEMENT RAMPS UP A SUSTAINABILITY EVENT AT CLARKSON LATER TODAY

SUNY CANTON APPEARS ON THE US NEWS RANKINGS OF BEST COLLEGES, PUTTING ALL FOUR COLLEGES IN POTSDAM AND CANTON ON THE LIST THIS YEAR WHICH IS COMMONPLACE