WATERTOWN — When Dr. Marylene J. Duah, of the infectious disease department at Samaritan Medical Center, asked recently how many flu cases they had hospitalized at the time, there had
WATERTOWN â While sales tax revenue dropped statewide in 2020, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties bucked the trend and reported positive growth.
A report from state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released Tuesday shows that statewide sales tax collections dropped by about 10% when compared to 2019.
âThis report shows how deeply the COVID-19 pandemic cut into municipal finances,â Mr. DiNapoli said in a statement released alongside Tuesdayâs report. âLocal governments depend heavily on sales taxes as a major source of revenue, but as New Yorkers stayed home and bought less in their communities during the pandemic, it created shortfalls. New Yorkâs localities need federal aid to help get through this crisis.â
At a time when many people have become frustrated with how efforts to control the spread of the novel coronavirus are proceeding, Jefferson County offered some hope last week.
Opened Jan. 18, the state-run vaccination center will enter its third week of operation on Monday.
Coming from the hamlet of Plessis in the town of Alexandria Thursday afternoon, James H. Mercer said he was initially doubtful about how organized the site would be. He said he signed up for an appointment about two weeks ago and drove more than 60 miles to St. Lawrence County.
âIt was smooth as hell,â Mr. Mercer said, patting his arm with satisfaction, after a roughly 20-minute process inside SUNY Potsdamâs Maxcy Hall.
Of New Yorkâs 13 state-run points of dispensing, or PODs, seven currently have appointment availability through mid-April. Earlier this week and into Friday morning, only SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh International Airport were accepting appointments, but by late Friday afternoon, the stateâs online eligibility and appointment portal updated availability at SUNY Albany, the New York State Fairgrounds, Westchester County Center, SUNY Stony Brook