The state legislature passed a bill this year to raise the agricultural inheritance tax exemption from 1 million dollar to 5 million dollars.  Dean Norton of the New York Farm Bureau said that the increase would make a huge difference to family farms that are handed down to the next generation:

(Dean Norton 8-6-14)

Norton said that the new exemption kicks in 2017.

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The New York State Office of General Services announced that vehicle and highway equipment auctions have been scheduled through the month of December. Locally, auctions are scheduled at the DOT at 241 Colesville Road, Binghamton on Wednesday October 15th at 9:30 AM, at SUNY Delhi on October 16th at 9:30 AM and at State Police Troop C Headquarters on state route 7 on October 16th at 1:30 PM.  Information on specific items and terms of sale is available at nysstore.com.

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Governor Cuomo hasn’t decided what to do with a more than $4 billion windfall the state has amassed, thanks in part to a series of legal settlements in recent months. The governor said the money could be spent on infrastructure, education or new tax cuts.

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The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council will meet tomorrow at 12:45 PM at Binghamton University in Vestal. The council will consider re-allocation for projects funded in the 3rd round of competitive funding, and endorse priority projects for the upcoming 4th round. The Southern Tier region consists of Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties

After 3 straight months of gains, consumer confidence in New York fell sharply in July, according to the latest poll from the Siena Research Institute.  New York’s index of consumer sentiment fell 5.3 points to 73.5 in July, nationwide the rate fell 0.7 points to 81.8.  51% of New Yorkers said gas prices are having a serious impact, 67% indicate that groceries was also a serious impact on their finances.

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Governor Cuomo signed legislation to strengthen precautions against residential off campus housing fires, requiring written and bolded notice to prospective tenants of whether or not a particular home has a fire sprinkler system.  The law follows a January 2012 fire in which Marist College student Kerry Rose Fitzsimons & 2 others died in a fire in an off-campus housing unit. The law also necessitates colleges and universities provide written fire safety information to each student living in a college-owned facility.

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The State Police are conducting a Speed Week initiative starting today, to reduce speed-related crashes and improve safety on the roads. Troopers will focus heavily on speeding, distracted and impaired drivers, vehicle occupants who are not buckled up and drivers that violate the “Move Over Law.”

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The public is invited to the first meeting of the new Tri County Tea Party Patriots tonight at 7pm in the Bainbridge Town Hall.  Featured speakers will include Denver Jones, who filed a petition to run against state Senator Tom Libous; more information is available at 764-8303.

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