SALES TAX PAYMENTS TO MUNICIPALITIES UP 16%.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: MICHELE MORGAN BOLTON Staff writer

Troy Year 2000 sales tax payments released to municipalities Thursday totaled almost $800,000 more than in the previous year, County Executive Henry Zwack said.

The $5,990,101 in payments to 22 municipalities represents a 16 percent increase in what those cities, towns and villages received in 1999, he said.

Rensselaer County's total 2000 sales tax collection was $50,462,081; a little more than $15 million more than what was collected in 1999.

``I'm ecstatic with the release of this money and I'm sure it will find good use in the various municipalities,'' Zwack said, calling the increase a …