NYSEG crews are getting prepared for the winter storm that is hitting the region today & early tomorrow. Nyseg officials remind customers to Keep flashlights, a battery-powered radio or TV and fresh batteries handy for this or any storm situation, have at least 1 telephone that is not dependent on electricity with batteries fully charged, Keep a supply of non-perishable food and bottled water on hand. Officials said that during a power interruption; report it to NYSEG at 1-800-572-1131 or at nyseg.com.
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State Troopers arrested 39 year old Timothy Collins of Andes for felony Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, after a traffic stop for failing to keep right on State Route 28 in Andes. Collins is accused of driving while intoxicated with 6 year old and 9 year old passengers in the vehicle. Collins was issued tickets returnable on December 11th to the Town of Andes Court.
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The State Department of Taxation and Finance kicked off the holiday shopping season today by reminding New York consumers and merchants that items of clothing and footwear sold for less than $110 are exempt from New York State’s 4% sales tax. Clothing and footwear items under $110 are completely tax free, tanks to the actions taken by the governments of new York city & 8 upstate counties, with the local portion of their sales tax those items, also exempted, locally that includes Chenango & Delaware Counties.
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State Senator Jim Seward announced a consumer protection measure for life insurance policyholders, which amends the Life Insurance Company Guaranty Corporation of New York Act to protect policyholders in the event of an insurance company’s bankruptcy. The law also allows for the creation of a non-profit resolution facility, which would administer and undertake the business of an insolvent insurance company. The new state law will take effect immediately.
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Broome County adopted a $365 million budget for 2015 that has a slight increase in property taxes, along with declines in spending and revenue. Executive Debbie Preston proposed a plan in September that called for $10.5 million less in spending than in 2014, and $13.7 million less in revenue. It would raise the property tax levy 2.5 percent, while predicting $6 million less in sales tax revenue. Last week, her office declined to veto three changes proposed by the legislature, effectively adopting the budget
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Labor advocates and religious leaders gathered yesterday at the state Capitol to deliver a message to state lawmakers: Don’t raise your pay without raising the minimum wage. About a dozen representatives from labor unions, food pantries and faith organizations held a news conference to make their case. Leaders in the state Senate and Assembly support increasing lawmakers’ salary. A special session of the Legislature would have to be called before year’s end in order for a raise to take effect in January. In 2013, lawmakers approved an incremental increase, raising the rate to the current $8 an hour before it increases to $8.75 on Dec. 31 and $9 on Dec. 31, 2015
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