By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County has been granted approval to raise the sales tax by 1 percent, after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed home-rule legislation Wednesday.

St. Lawrence County legislative chairman Jonathan Putney said the governor's signature allows the county to stabilize property taxes and begin restoring its depleted fund balance.

"As the chairman of the Board of Legislators I'm very appreciative of the role Governor Andrew Cuomo has played in the process of authorizing home rule legislation for St. Lawrence County," he said. "With his signature on this legislation we are now able to meet our objective of stabilizing property tax rates and living within the tax cap over the next 5 years."

The home rule legislation allows the county to raise the local sales tax from 3 to 4 percent, bringing the total sales tax, including the state's share, up from 7 to 8 percent.

According to numbers provided by the county legislators the increase in St. Lawrence County’s sales tax would generate an estimated $14 million with $900,000 going to Ogdensburg and $1.4 million divided between the towns and villages, based on recent sales tax receipts.

Putney said the new revenue would allow the county to reduce the county tax levy by 14 percent the first year, offsetting an unprecedented increase in the levy in the 2013 budget.

"We will provide the biggest property tax cut in SLC history next year and that is something that our citizens need and deserve," Putney said. "Gov. Cuomo has been leading the effort to provide property tax relief all across this state and this is further proof that he is delivering on his promise for people in the North Country," Putney said.

Putney said the board would likely discuss the sales tax increase at the next St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators meeting.

For details on the county’s proposed plan to increase sales tax see earlier story.