Canton, NY, Aug 14, 2012 — Half a decade after the Great Recession began, many local governments around the US and here in the North Country are still hurting. Core services and programs are being scaled back, cut or privatized. Last month alone, another 9,000 public sector workers were laid off nationwide.

While the private sector economy is creaking back to life, government experts say they sources of revenue that fund local programs haven't revived. As Brian Mann reports, that's sparked a new debate over what government should look like--not at the Federal level, but at the grassroots.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, May 16, 2012 — It was school budget day in New York State yesterday. Voters from one side of the state to the other had their say on their local district's spending plan for the coming year.

It was a tough year for the schools, with a continuing loss of state education aid, and a new state-imposed limit on property taxes used to fund many of the programs and positions local communities value.

The vast majority of budgets passed in the North Country; most including significant cuts in teachers and programs. Martha Foley talked with Brian Mann for a survey of the regional results.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, May 19, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo dominated Albany this year, pushing his austerity budget through the legislature on time with only token opposition.

With his poll numbers still high, Cuomo is barnstorming the state again, hoping to pass another ambitious slate of bills before the current session ends June 20.

Yesterday, the governor brought his "People First Campaign" to the Olympic region, pushing for ethics reform, a cap on local property taxes, and a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. Chris Morris has our report.  Go to full article

Elizabethtown, NY, Dec 30, 2010 — Essex County is still struggling to contain a projected property tax increase of 10 percent next year. Supervisors have considered and rejected selling the county nursing home, and an across the board cut in payments to outside agencies.

Essex County Chairman Randy Douglas has also called for the Civil Service Employees Union's 400 county employees to except a pay freeze.

After months of silence, the union local president Mike McGinn said this week there's no chance the union will agree to pay freezes or other concessions.  Go to full article

Dec 09, 2010 — Over the last couple of weeks, counties across the North Country have been hiking their property taxes, often by double-digit amounts. But a big chunk of those property taxes won't come from local residents. In many communities and in many school districts the state of New York is the biggest property owner and pays the lion's share of taxes.

As we heard yesterday, one state agency has already suspended its property tax payments, costing counties and schools millions of dollars. In this second part our two-part series, Brian Mann reports that local leaders across the region fear that their state property tax payments could also be cut.  Go to full article

Northville, NY, Dec 08, 2010 — In many parts of the Adirondack Park, the biggest engine of the local economy isn't tourism or timber or mining. The main driver of the cash economy is the state of New York.

The state funds thousands of jobs in the Park at prisons, hospitals, schools, and mental health facilities.

But Albany also makes tens of millions of dollars in direct property tax payments every year to local governments and school districts, while asking for almost no services in return.

With New York's budget deficit expected to top ten billion dollars next year, community leaders are worried that those tax payments could be squeezed.

In part one of a two part series, Brian Mann looks at communities in the Park that have already seen the state cut off their property tax payments.  Go to full article

Nov 24, 2010 — Public schools in the North Country have been closing one-by-one for decades. It's a heartbreaking event for small towns.

But dwindling populations and rising costs have forced districts to consolidate and bus their kids long distances to bigger schools.

Incoming Governor Andrew Cuomo has indicated that he wants more districts to merge, and the state has already cut education funding.

The entire Newcomb school district has fewer than a hundred kids.

But as Brian Mann reports, the community is fighting for survival by trying to attract international students to fill its empty classrooms.  Go to full article

Ilion, NY, Oct 14, 2010 — After seven years of no increases and one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, Essex County is looking at playing catch-up--fast. The county manager estimates a hike in the 30% to 50% range. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Sep 22, 2010 — Essex County now faces a budget deficit next year that could top 9 million dollars. That's ten percent of the county's budget that still needs to be paid for.

The soaring costs are being blamed on scheduled pay increases for county workers, rising utility coasts, and the cost of operating the Horace Nye nursing home in Elizabethtown.

The latest blow came this week, when the Board of Supervisors announced that health insurance costs could rise by as much as 46%.

Brian Mann spoke about the budget crunch with Randy Douglas. He's town supervisor in Jay and serves as county chair.  Go to full article

Queensbury, NY, Aug 26, 2010 — Voters in the Lake George area go to the polls today to decide whether they want to create a new village. The new community, called East Lake George, would be carved out of the towns of Fort Ann and Queensbury.

Supporters of the move say it would help to ease the high property tax burden on their mostly waterfront homes. The change drew fire from the Glens Falls Post-Star newspaper, which published an editorial yesterday urging voters to reject the plan.

Anthony Hall is publisher of the Lake George Mirror newspaper and he's been covering this story. He talked about today's vote with Brian Mann.

NOTE: The polls are open today at the North Queensbury Fire Station from noon until 9 pm.  Go to full article