[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6504660,"mediaKeyId","5566564-f81d39d683337e50276b08cff5411460","parentId",5566564,"title","Votes at a glance: Schenectady County Legislature adopts a package of routine resolutions; ceremonial recognitions and funding agreements approved","audioSeconds",900,"startMs",1989000,"endMs",2889000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5566564-f81d39d683337e50276b08cff5411460&start=1989&end=2889","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5566564-f81d39d683337e50276b08cff5411460/thumbnail_1989000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6504660/Schenectady-County/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-Schenectady-County-Legislature-adopts-a-package-of-routine-resolutions-ceremonial-recognitions-and-funding-agreements-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504660-7c950167eb724bb866f4891a2263eecb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442774&Signature=Mn3KrTN2LsGk~gj6nVhsIbnwF61Rp9KS8jKfCmH3ZUCxPdotRtL0eaO0kxw0RMNeJEqZhc3TlQGhwiDIqe43PlBUsjYgEq5s3VKvl41hCdqZxb0IbibZda38WLibaruoT-CaRheyK1Xg6rd9CtTBNq7QiQIVD~yQUc-RX3undopHl3FVCX7Eg-fXe0K5YvuvFrig~mL01fd3lk-Qi--VWDIOckfvNIwvYIvaO1NkxprXTJrj8Y4Apq0BBcdYLY8bvSS7rJ6rQg~qR7AmaJwkyelYVtMSZ6WVR9pF44XTkbJnto2OCNM3Jk4KDmoEmYvElyiVzTVqZaAU6F57t8oaEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Saratoga County, NY","date","2025-08-12T22:46:31Z","article","The Schenectady County Legislature approved a slate of resolutions at its Aug. 4, 2025 regular meeting. Most items were routine, received little or no debate, and were carried by roll-call vote.

Key items approved on the agenda included:

- Resolution 1-10-25 (ceremonial): Recognition commending Hans Whitaker for athletic achievements; passed unanimously by voice/roll call. Legislators offered congratulations during the meeting.

- Resolution 1-11-25: Authorizes a multiyear agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for referrals and admission of veterans into the county nursing home; described in the meeting as a “brand new agreement” to allow direct VA referrals and an enhanced Medicare pay code. Resolution passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-12-25: Confirms the appointment of an acting commissioner of the Department of Economic Development and Planning (Mark Storte); passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-13-25: Create and eliminate certain positions in the Office of Information Services (civil-service title changes; revenue neutral); passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-14-25: Acceptance of monies from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for the Family Centered Care Management Program; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-15-25: Create and eliminate positions in various county offices; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-16-25: Authorizes right-of-way acquisition agreements for real property interests; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-17-25: Update to the master plan and layout for the Schenectady County Airport; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-18-25: Authorizes implementation and funding of a federally aided transportation project (100% federal/state eligible costs appropriation); passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-19-25: Acceptance of monies from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services for anti-violence initiatives (gun-violence reduction); passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-20-25: Multiyear agreement with Westlaw Publishing Corporation for legal research services; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-21-25: Amendments to the operating budget and creation of a position in the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-22-25: Acceptance of monies from the NYS Office of Victim Services for the victim advocacy program; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-23-25: Acceptance of monies from the NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services to fund indigent defense; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-24-25: Correction of clerical errors on the municipal tax roll of the Town of Rotterdam; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-25-25: Amendments to the capital improvement program for various projects; passed on roll call.

- Resolution 1-26-25: Amendment of Resolution 1-48-88 to continue the half‑percent county sales-and-use tax; passed after discussion and recorded dissent (see separate article).

Most items were described as routine staff or administrative authorizations, personnel changes, or grant acceptances. Several items were noted by presenters as either revenue-neutral or entirely funded by state or federal sources. No appeals or referrals to committee were recorded for these items during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Schenectady County Legislature Regular Meeting - August 12th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 4, 2025 meeting the Schenectady County Legislature passed a set of routine resolutions including ceremonial recognition, funding acceptances, appointments, personnel changes, and agreements with state and federal agencies. Most measures carried on voice or roll-call votes with minimal debate.","taxTitle","Schenectady County, New York","taxId",14533,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6504665,"Schenectady County Legislature renews half‑percent sales tax after brief debate; two legislators vote no",283,2617000,2900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5566564-f81d39d683337e50276b08cff5411460&start=2617&end=2900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5566564-f81d39d683337e50276b08cff5411460/thumbnail_2617000.jpg","/articles/6504665/Schenectady-County/New-York/Schenectady-County-Legislature-renews-halfpercent-sales-tax-after-brief-debate-two-legislators-vote-no","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504665-dceec62d49b2475d4bc715d1e3adaa28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442774&Signature=Bp8Kk~gBJs4vz8Zir8Gs2ptFLaha74n7AOYT~ev5C7-LMqWO9W-39fDKef08wzVaR-4kiZYYjVsTUZUy8SVJPWiJoakEUiOa6u7xhUS5OYdFZ9IssPqoim8ma~~Lh8~KoqaqxGCNiXphcQm-VN3LcaRXKVKeZwK72kJpAZQVM1F8Owc~yrdmHQsWS~4J2JLPTUnZTA6f7XmgQuxc7qmzx67yYVj5OS1twv6Nq5Y6afjW-LOtQLdjL-rFNpHrOJE0oeYyDgA4nsYm8UobckxTKGKulVmcpi8Kugb2MWh3xKLWdveo9UtYDIT9sQJTJ1RyrVJwaB07fQ6fjfcdtBaaJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Schenectady County Legislature voted to amend Resolution 1-48-88 — renewing a half‑percent county sales-and-use tax authorized under Article 29 of the New York State Tax Law — during its Aug. 4, 2025, meeting.

The measure, presented as Resolution 1-26-25, passed on a roll call after brief debate about the tax’s role in the county budget. Legislator Jasinski said the levy “has been the law of the land for the past 37 years” and argued it was enacted to help keep property taxes lower when state mandates were unfunded. Jasinski added, “To vote no on this and vote yes on the county budget and yes on the tax warrants that we all signed in December, kind of creates a built‑in deficit to our budget.”

Legislator Russo and others said the revenue supports county services and shared that roughly one‑third of funds collected are distributed to towns, villages and cities in the county. Legislator Perturney noted the body had already budgeted the revenue when it adopted the county budget in October and supported renewing the tax to avoid budget shortfalls.

Legislator Cuomo explained his vote against the renewal: “I would be voting no on this resolution to renew the additional half percent sales tax increase. We know that lower taxes will stimulate our local economy and drive business into … the county. … It is our duty to be fiscally responsible and work within the budget. Taxpayers see through this rhetoric and expect us to manage their money responsibly without relying on constant tax increases.”

Legislator Hess also voted no and said reducing the retail sales tax would make Schenectady County more competitive with neighboring Saratoga County and could increase local retail activity. “I’m gonna vote no also,” Hess said, “considering reducing the sales tax … would make Schenectady County more competitive to Saratoga County.”

Clerk roll call produced the final result reported in the meeting: the resolution passed. The presiding officer announced the outcome following the roll call.

Why it matters: County officials said the half‑percent has funded county operations and shared revenues to local municipalities for decades. Supporters said rejecting the renewal would create a gap in the county budget that would need to be addressed in future budget decisions; opponents said cutting the tax could spur retail growth and questioned reliance on continued tax renewals.

The measure amends an existing local resolution first adopted in 1988 and references Article 29 of the New York State Tax Law in the implementing language. No implementation schedule or effective date beyond the standard renewal language was specified during the meeting.","The Schenectady County Legislature voted to amend a 1988 resolution to renew a half‑percent county sales-and-use tax under Article 29 of the New York State Tax Law. The measure passed after members debated budgetary dependence and local competitiveness; two legislators voted against it.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Schenectady County Legislature adopts a package of routine resolutions; ceremonial recognitions and funding agreements approved

Schenectady County Legislature renews half‑percent sales tax after brief debate; two legislators vote no