Area sales-tax revenues down

The Daily Star reported that sales-tax revenue totals throughout the four-county area showed a sharp decline from last year's revenue during the second quarter, forcing budget cuts and hiring freezes.

Otsego County Treasurer Myrna Thayne said the current quarter's numbers are "not good, but they are not as bad as they could be."

Thayne said Otsego's sales-tax revenue for April, May and June _ the second quarter of 2009 _ totaled $12,756,905, compared with $13,680,656 for the same period last year, which is a 6.75 percent decrease. Read more here.