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Sales tax revenue increased in November with the start of holiday shopping; Rockland County has the largest increase at 51%

Local sales tax revenues in New York City continued to rise last month, increasing by more than 17% from the same period in 2020, according to a report released by the Office of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

Sales tax collections reached $ 1.6 billion, an increase from $ 235 million in November 2020, DiNapoli said.

Rockland County saw the largest increase at 51% from November 2020, followed by Cayuga County at 40%. Rockland collected $ 24.8 million in sales tax in November 2021, up from $ 16.4 in November 2020. The six counties that make up the central Hudson regions have seen collections increase 24.5% over the course of the year. from the same period.

However, sales tax revenue data does not reflect where or how people shopped. And it doesn’t show whether New Yorkers cut spending as news of the omicron variant broke at the end of the month.

There is now an increase in COVID cases in New York City, and public health officials have put in place new indoor mask rules for businesses and other public places that don’t require a person presents proof of vaccination to enter.

“As has been the case in recent months, sales tax collections in November have improved significantly compared to last year,” said DiNapoli. “While the bulk of the holiday spending should be reflected in the December collections, the November collections may have benefited from purchases earlier this year. “

Locally, almost all counties posted year-over-year growth in their sales tax collections last month. New York City saw a 12.6% increase, to nearly $ 78 million, from a year ago.

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Former Vice President of the Garden of Dreams Foundation at Madison Square Garden appointed CEO of Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley

The Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley Board of Directors has appointed Kristine Burton as Managing Director, succeeding Thomas J. Conklin, who is retiring after 17 years of service. Ms. Burton’s appointment is effective January 3, 2022.

With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit field, Burton is dedicated to improving the lives of young people who need it most. For the past 12 years, she has served as Vice President of the Garden of Dreams Madison Square Garden (MSG) Foundation, where she was responsible for all aspects of the multi-million dollar nonprofit, charity, including strategy, operations, fundraising and programming efforts, as well as board management and administrative matters.

Kristine started her role at MSG in 2001 as a public relations manager with MSG Network. She joined the business community in 2003 to help direct programming for the Cheering for Children Foundation, which was transformed into the Garden of Dreams Foundation in 2006.

Prior to MSG, Ms. Burton spent over seven years with Special Olympics New York. In her last role as Director of Programs, she worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities, leading training and athletics programs throughout the year.

“I have always been inspired by the remarkable work of Make-A-Wish and the organization’s ability to make wishes come true for children in treatment for serious illness. I am so honored and grateful to have the opportunity to lead Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley and join the remarkable staff and countless volunteers who help make life changing wishes come true every day, ”said Burton.

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RCC partners with Ancora Corporate Training for expansion of Career Skills Academy course

Rockland Community College (RCC), a member of the SUNY college system with 8,000 students in the Hudson Valley region, selected Ancora Corporate Training to manage a portfolio of courses for its Career Skills Academy, including site development Web and applications, mechatronics, the wireless technician. Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training and training.

The Career Skills Academy was created by the RCC to meet the strong demand for “middle skills” jobs – jobs that require more than a high school diploma but less than a university degree – in the Hudson Valley region. The partnership with Ancora has enabled the RCC to expand its course offering to its students and, for the first time, to offer a CDL-A training program, one of the most requested careers in the country.

There is a nationwide shortage of CDL drivers, and companies that operate vehicle fleets are scrambling to fill these positions and alleviate the current challenges facing the national supply chain. According to Indeed.com, there are more than 5,000 full-time entry-level driver jobs in Rockland County alone with an average starting salary of $ 70,000. Recognizing the significant opportunity this shortage presents for its students, Rockland Community College chose Ancora to pilot the training program, citing Ancora’s depth of experience and flexible scheduling as some of the critical reasons for her decision.

“We are delighted to offer these important courses to residents of Rockland County,” said Dr. Michael A. Baston, President of Rockland Community College. “A key aspect of our mission is to empower individuals to positively transform themselves, as well as their communities. We believe that offering these programs, especially the CDL-A training course, allows students to embark on a lucrative and sought-after career knowing that they are having a positive impact on the world around them.

The cost to enroll in the CDL program is $ 5,500; however, those eligible for Rockland Works assistance will be able to complete the month-long program at no cost. For more information or to register for one of the RCC programs, contact the college by calling 845-574-4518 or by visiting: https://bit.ly/3rUHrBS