Sales tax extension sought; County legislators seek state permission to keep rate at the current 8 percent level.(Capital Region)

Byline: ANNE MILLER - Staff Writer

SCHENECTADY - County legislators have voted to petition the state Legislature to allow Schenectady County to keep its sales tax at its current rate, a half-percentage higher than otherwise allowed.

The state law allowing the county to charge the extra tax expires Nov. 30 and must be renewed by state officials to continue. The county currently charges a total of 8 percent sales tax.

County officials voted 11-3 for the tax, with one representative, Brian Gordon, absent for family reasons.

Before the vote, Republican Robert Farley of Glenville and Democrat Gary Hughes of Schenectady, debated not only the sales …