99 NEWS FOR FRIDAY, 3/1/13

RESEARCH DOLLARS TO LOCAL COLLEGES COULD SLOW IN SEQUESTRATION, CONGRESSMAN SAYS--New York District 21 Representative Bill Owens told reporters in a teleconference Thursday afternoon the National Institutes of Health, that funds research at Clarkson and St. Lawrence Universities is one of the agencies that would see a loss if a deal to avert spending cuts is not reached today. He says the impact would be felt in 30-to-40 days if it happens.

POTSDAM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SUGGESTS GOING OVER STATE TAX CAP--Fred Stone told the rest of the board Tuesday he thinks the voters should be presented in May with a spending plan over Potsdam's individually-calculated limit of 4.78 percent, using a balanced approach of spending cuts, re-structuring, and revenue. Superintendent Pat Brady said he doubts the public would allow it, in light of a 14-percent county tax hike this year and a re-valuation of property by the Town of Potsdam. Brady says the stakes of a budget failing at the polls is higher than it used to be--if a budget is voted down twice it is not automatically contingency, it's zero.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY....

ASSEMBLYMAN MARC BUTLER SAYS "SAFE ACT" IS ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE, THE COST OF ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE PAID FOR MOSTLY WITH BORROWED MONEY