ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW MARKET PRESS/ DENTON PUBLICATIONS
Save a Stamp
Now You Can!
P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL PATRON
Simply go to www.trilakestoday.com Enter the letters to the editor section. Post your own letter, reply to others. It’s simple, easy, and free!
April 17, 2010
A Denton Publication
Free
WordSpring
Kids Count
Savings
Slam poetry makes its way to NCCC April 29.
Obesity has become a major concern for our children.
What you should know about coupon overage.
Page 2
Essex County grappling with potential 30 percent tax hike By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — If you thought the state’s budget outlook was bad, a glance at Essex County’s upcoming 2011 budget process is sure to garner a cringe as a 30 percent tax hike could be looming. County officials stressed this week that everything that can potentially be cut is on the table, including employee pay freezes, a sales tax hike and privatizing the county-owned Horace Nye Nursing Home. According to Essex County Manager Dan Palmer, the county is likely to fall $7 million short in 2011. In recent years, supervisors have dipped into the county’s fund balance to make up the difference and buy down the tax levy. But that fund is now depleted. Palmer says using any more than $3 million from the county’s reserves could threaten its credit rating. “We had hoped the sales tax figures would have come in better than they did in 2009,” Palmer said. Although only in the second year of a fouryear deal with the Civil Service Employees Union, a contractual clause that requires the reopening of negotiations if and when national health care is passed will bring the parties to the table on April 19. “We need a pay freeze, across the board,” Palmer said. Stripping Essex County’s 400 employees of their already guaranteed four percent increase would save $1.3 million. County officials are predicting health insurance costs alone will skyrocket 20 to 25 percent. Supervisors are also considering a onequarter percent increase in sales tax, which could generate about $2 million in revenue. Essex County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Roby Politi has renewed his calls for the privatization of Horace Nye, a potentially sticky proposition in the county’s eastern half. “We have to address the immediate solutions,” Politi said. “I know no one wants to talk about wage freezes or Horace Nye, but these are things that we are elected to address.” But Moriah Supervisor Tom Scozzafava isn’t buying the Horace Nye argument. “I’ve never had anyone complain about paying for the nursing home,” Scozzafava said. Horace Nye costs about $4 million a year to run. Palmer said the continued operation of the 100 bed facility all but assures at-least a 20 percent hike in taxes. Even with a $3 million fund balance buydown, county taxpayers face up to a 30 percent tax hike if significant cuts aren’t made. Essex County typically relies on about $21 million in sales tax to keep its two-dollar-perthousand property tax rate at the lowest level in the state. But the most recent year ’s return fell $600,000 short of 2008 levels. Officials said staffing reductions may be eminent and are considering adopting a retirement incentive program.
Page 4
Page 4
Tupper Lake – Doheny makes Congressional bid official By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com TUPPER LAKE — Watertown banker and would-be Republican Congressional candidate Matt Doheny is in the middle of a whirlwind three-day tour of the eleven counties that comprise New York’s 23rd Congressional District, officially beginning his bid to challenge Congressman Bill Owens this fall. During an early morning stop in Tupper Lake Thursday, Doheny described himself as a stalwart fiscal con-
servative with a focus on lower taxes and job creation. “We’re going to focus on something as simple as not spending more than you actually take in,” Doheny said. “But more importantly, people said if we send you to Washington, we want to focus on economic development. Certainly I agree and that’s going to be a large part of the campaign for the next six months.” He said that lower taxes spur job creation, not government programs.
See CONGRESS, page 5
Bill Owens
Matt Doheny
Knopfler of Dire Straights fame to perform at LPCA LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid Center for the Arts is inviting the public to a One-Night-Only Concert featuring Dire Straits Co-Founder David Knopfler with Harry Bogdanovs on Saturday, April 24 at 8 pm. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased by calling 523-2512.
About David Knopfler: Born in Glasgow, Scotland, David Knopfler grew up in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North of England. By fourteen, David was performing his own songs in folk clubs and having learned guitar, piano and drums in his childhood, it's not surprising to find he's mastered many of the instruments he uses on his recordings. David founded Dire Straits, and with brother Mark recorded three albums, touring the stadium circuit extensively, before resigning three years later to follow his own path of independent, singer-songwriter. For more than two decades he's faithfully pursued his musical vision, writing and producing his own music on several critically acclaimed solo CDs. David creates songs of substance. They are by turns deep and captivating, elegant and thought provoking, with clever, gripping lyrics, his exquisite sense of melody blending effortlessly. More attentive listeners might even find themselves decoding the frequent buried references David includes. An example is found in "Jericho" (from his 2002 album Wishbones), the words to which conceal titles of previous albums and songs. David Knopfler has been fortunate enough to reach a wide audience without compromising his art. While he's enjoyed the respect and admiration of his musical peers, widespread critical acclaim, international awards and worldwide chart successes, he lives quietly in the English countryside, notching up an impressive list of writing credits. An understated integrity and honesty define Knopfler in both his work and private life. A family man and a lifelong member of organizations like Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Adopt a Minefield, David has always made uncompromising life choices. "I don't regard what I do as remotely glamorous. I write and record music because I completely love doing it,
David Knopfler
See CONCERT, page 5
Broadband project should be okay without state dollars By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com Federal officials said that although matching funds are required to tap federal stimulus funding for North Country broadband expansion, it appears that the project will move forward as planned. Bethany Lesser is a spokeswoman for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. She said Thursday that although previously promised state grants could dry up, it shouldn’t threaten the installation of fiber optic broadband in-
frastructure between Star Lake and Tupper Lake. “We have talked to everyone involved and were told that they will be able to cover the costs,” Lesser said. “The North Country should be fine.” Earlier this week, local officials learned the state’s legislative budgets proposed eliminating $100 million in grants meant to supplement stimulus monies going toward technological expansion. Last year, the Development Authority of the North Country was awarded $37 mil-
lion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants to expand upon its existing 750 miles of fiber optic lines. According to officials at the National Telecommunication and Information Administration, the federal cash is contingent on a 20 percent local or state match. Local and state officials fear the loss of the state funding could doom the planned broadband expansion. In an interview Wednesday, DANC
See BROADBAND, page 5