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September 26, 2009
All that jazz
Be kind
Sports
Jazz festival in Lake George flourished under sunny skies.
Readers respond to John with their own stories of kindness.
All the scores and stats from the schools in your area.
Heaviest taxes shouldered by Adirondackers, study reveals
Pages 18-19
Page 8
Page 5
Obama visits Capital Region college By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com
By Jonathan Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com WARRENSBURG — Despite living in some of New York’s poorest municipalities, many Adirondack residents are subject to some of the highest tax rates per capita in the state. According to data compiled by the state Comptroller and analyzed by the government watchdog group the Empire Center for New York State Policy, towns and counties in the Park top the tax burden list, while offering some of the fewest social services. In 2007, the Hamilton County tax burden was $1,606 per resident — the most expensive in the state. Warren County ranked third statewide at $1,255 per resident and Essex County ranks ninth at $1,065. The out-of-park counties of Saratoga, Wyoming and Orleans have the smallest tax burdens per resident. At the town level, the Essex County community of Newcomb has the largest tax burden statewide at $6,293 per resident. Hamilton County is well represented in the top 10 most burdensome places with Arietta ranking second, Inlet third, Long Lake fifth, Lake Pleasant 10th and Indian Lake 11th. A total of 908 towns are represented in the study. In contrast, Hamilton County ranked 53rd in per capita spending for social services, while Essex ranks 47th. Essex County also ranks seventh in per capita spending on employee benefits at $349. Hamilton is number three and Lewis County tops the list at $808 per resident. According to LA Group Planner Jim Martin, who has for years scrutinized statistics on the Adirondacks, most non-park municipalities are comprised of roughly 30 percent industrial or commercial property. But in the Adirondack Park, the total amount of commercial or industrial property drops to a paltry 0.3 percent. And this is at the core of the cash shortage to shoulder taxes in municipalities inside the park borders. “The regular taxpayer puts in $1 and takes out $1.30 in services,” Martin said. “A company puts in $1 and takes out .35 cents.” New York regularly tops the list of most highly taxed states, making Adirondack residents some of the most taxed in the nation. Meanwhile, the average Adirondack household brings in a median income of roughly $43,000 annually, $8,000 below the statewide average.
U.S. President Barack Obama called for new initiatives in high technology and innovation during his speech delivered Monday at Hudson Valley Community College, in New York’s Capital Region. Photo by Kim Ladd/Lifescapes Photography
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Local funeral, calling hours set By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com HORICON — New York State government has paid tribute to local soldier Jeremiah Monroe who was killed while on duty Sept. 17 in Afghanistan. Monday, Gov. David Paterson directed that flags on government buildings be flown at half staff in memory of Monroe, who sacrificed his life for his nation, Paterson said. “On behalf of all New Yorkers I extend our sympathy and
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ON THE NET This story was first posted online at 3 p.m., September 18 on www.adirondack-journal.com when an improvised explosive device detonated near a vehicle in which he was traveling near Kandahar, Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Dept. of Defense. Monroe’s family has deep roots in the Brant Lake area, and Jeremiah Monroe attended North Warren Central School.
See MONROE, page 16
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condolences to the family, friends and fellow soldiers of Pfc Monroe,” Governor Paterson said. “He gave his life on behalf of all Americans in a just cause. We mourn his death and honor his service to our country.” Monroe, a Private First Class in the Army, was a native of Brant Lake, but in recent years lived in Niskayuna. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum. Monroe, 31, was killed
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See OBAMA, page 11
Soldier with local roots killed in Afghanistan
S E A S O N S ®
TROY — Visiting a community college Monday in the Capital Region, U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled new federal proposals intended to spur the creation of hightechnology jobs, boost 21st century education and foster innovation that will revitalize the national economy. Although the president’s visit to Hudson Valley Community College was a scripted, controlled event with only minor interaction with the public and no question-and-answer session with the press, Obama received a warm welcome and plenty of media attention. The President announced his administration’s initiatives — dubbed the Strategy for Innovation and Sustainable Growth, in front of an audience of about 200 Capital Region business leaders, politicians, and 60 HVCC students in an automotive technology classroom — essentially a repair garage which until late last week hosted cars perched on vehi-
cle lifts. The relatively small audience was selected by the White House staff, leaving many to wonder why a public event was not held. The initiatives include boosting college enrollment by increasing federal Pell grants to college students, creating a simplified $2,500 tax credit for college tuition, boosting aid to soldiers returning from combat in the mideast, liberalizing college aid by shifting aid qualifications from evaluating past annual pay to present earnings, and increasing federal support to community colleges. He also voiced support for a bill that passed the House of Representatives last week that calls for the government to lend to students directly for college tuition, saving $80 billion in federal student loan subsidies and guarantees now going to banks. This money would be redirected to beefing up Pell grants and fund incentives for students to graduate, he said. “These savings will allow us to make the largest investment ever in
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