Schenectady County officials today announced that the towns and villages in the County received a record $3.3 million in payments in 2008 from the portion of the sales tax each municipality receives from Metroplex. This brings to almost $29 million the total amount paid to towns and villages since Metroplex was started in 1999.

Metroplex receives ½ of one percent of the County sales tax. Thirty percent (30%) of this amount is reserved for towns/villages and is sent directly to them by the County Finance office. The remaining 70% stays with Metroplex and is used to help finance economic development projects that in turn create additional sales and property tax.

In 2008, the towns and villages in Schenectady County received record disbursements from the sales tax collected by Metroplex. All of the municipalities received more than in any previous year since the sales tax for Metroplex was instituted in 1999.

While many counties in New York State experienced a decline in sales tax revenue last year, Schenectady County saw an increase of 5.86%. The rate of increase ranked seventh among New York State’s 63 counties.

The results for 2008 are as follows along with total funding received since 1999:

Rotterdam — $1,086,679 in 2008 up from $968,422 in 2007. $9.71 million received since 1999.

Princetown — $81,940 in 2008 up from $73,023 in 2007. $724,201 received since 1999.

Niskayuna — $778,754 in 2008 up from $694,007 in 2007. $6.87 million received since 1999.

Village of Scotia — $305,323 in 2008 up from $272,097 in 2005. $2.69 million received since 1999.

Glenville — $776,153 in 2008 up from $691,688 in 2007. $7.01 million received since 1999.

Delanson — $14,632 in 2008 up from $13,040 in 2007. $129,203 received since 1999.

Duanesburg — $208,101 in 2008 up from $185,455. $1.84 million received since 1999.

Total to Towns in 2008 — $3,251,582.

Total received by Towns in Schenectady County since 1999 — $28.96 million.