Assemblyman Marc Butler (R-Newport) answered some Evening Telegram questions on this year’s budget.

While it is clear the Mohawk Valley economy has struggled as a result of the recession, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli feels things could have been worse.       
In a report released this week, DiNapoli said counties statewide suffered one of the sharpest declines in sales tax collections on record.

 In order to settle a case involving several Alcohol Beverage Control law violations, Albany Street Cafe ownership agreed to pay a fine and have the village bar and restaurant’s liquor license suspended for 40 days, state Liquor Authority officials said.

As a new year dawns, Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Scarano said he is optimistic about the future of local businesses.

 The county legislature will hold a special session Monday to consider spending $250,000 on marketing and economic development in 2010.

 Remington Arms will compete for a U.S. Army contract to upgrade sniper rifles, hoping that all of the work would be done in the Ilion plant, according to local officials.

Struggling Herkimer County dairy farmers can expect a little relief in the coming weeks.

The battle over which entity gets to provide electric power to the Frankfort 5S South Business Park, the village of Frankfort or National Grid, continues to move forward in Albany.

The Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday passed a resolution beginning its involvement in ongoing negotiations related to bringing a wind energy project to the towns of Fairfield, Norway and Little Falls.

With the hum of cash registers ringing in the background, JoAnn Bliss, Herb Philipson’s store manager, paused for a moment Friday to take stock of what just happened.

 Lawmakers will return to Albany on Monday, looking to trim over $3 billion from the budget before the state goes bankrupt.

Several members of the county Human Resources Committee have requested that Country Manor Adult Home administrators attend a Finance Committee meeting Friday to explain concerns related to staffing at the adult care facility.

The Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency is looking to promote the county’s industrial parks and other commercial properties at trade shows where board members believe they can entice business leaders to locate their companies in the Mohawk Valley.

In forming the Chamber Alliance of the Mohawk Valley five years ago, nine area chambers of commerce decided to work toward building a unified business community, according to John Scarano, Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce director.