Melanie Lekocevic reports for Columbia-Greene Media that sales tax receipts for Greene and Columbia counties rose nearly five percent over the first half of 2019, compared to the first six months the year before. Columbia County's tax collections were up 5.3 percent, and Greene County was up 4.9 percent. Albany and the Capital District both had less than three percent growth, according to a report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Statewide sales tax collections rose by 3.3 percent. While DiNapoli pointed out that the sales tax increases aren't as large as they once were, the numbers are still growing in the twin counties. “We have had an expansion in our retail business community, which has certainly helped contribute to sales tax growth,” said Jeff Friedman, president and executive director of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce. “We have just seen a lot of growth in our business community, with new businesses coming in and expansion of existing businesses — it shows the quality of our businesses and the strength of our economy.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.