Luther Forest gets Empire Zone OK


Last updated: 7:12 p.m., Tuesday, December 18, 2007

BALLSTON SPA - The Saratoga Board of Supervisors designated the Luther Forest Technology Campus as an Empire Zone Tuesday.


The move will make Advanced Micro Devices, the computer chip company anticipated to be the first tenant of the park, eligible for tax incentives. The benefits will be in addition to the $1.2 billion in financial incentives offered by the state to lure AMD to Malta.

No one on the board offered comment at the meeting. Three members of the public spoke two in opposition to the Empire Zone designation and one in favor.

Ron Deutsch of Greenfield asked the supervisors for "cautious optimism" because the company has not yet said it will build factories in the county.

"Let's not rush to build bypasses and water lines to accommodate a company that might not even come to Saratoga. Let's build infrastructure when AMD signs on the dotted line,'' Deutsch said.

But Robert Barshied's comments echoed what many have used as a rallying cry in the campaign to establish Saratoga as part of the Capital Region's "tech valley" - his son grew up in Stillwater, went to college and was forced to move away to find work, a trend that might change if AMD offered jobs here.

"I want to see you do everything you can to support AMD coming here," Barshied said.

Multi-billion dollar company gets tax incentives out the ying - yang, the rich get richer and i have to pay this damn "Volunteer" tax.

Most people never need the service ...they should charge for fire department and ambulance service ...meaning ... if you call them or they have to come to you house ...you get a bill.

I think you would be amazed how much "repeat" business these services get.

Maybe home owners insurance could cover these bills.


( yeah ..yeah ... i know ...i can't let it go ... i need a life )

and all this time we thought taxes were meant to help the poor eat the rich. I bet you could get that petition signed. Make a town Tax for the rich like all hell and decrease your own taxes.

Awaken the silent majority with your free time.