Fuel hikes empty coffers

County highway gas funds are running on empty six months into the year.

The rise in gas and fuel costs has governments looking at double what they intended to spend this year, leaving county officials tinkering to find money.

"We are going to be out of dollars to purchase fuel by the end of the month," said William E. Dashnaw, St. Lawrence County Highway Department superintendent. "Who would have guessed fuel is where it's at?"

The county budgeted $650,000 for gas and diesel, a $50,000 increase from 2007. There's about $18,000 remaining.

Mr. Dashnaw recently presented the situation to legislators, who tossed out ideas but came up dry — as did top-level staff who have been considering it for weeks.

"We don't have a magic answer," said Robert O. McNeil, county treasurer. "This is really the beginning of a lot of tough financial questions that have to be asked."

Jefferson County budgeted $300,000 for Highway Department fuel purchases. Superintendent James L. Lawrence Jr. expects to ask legislators for up to $150,000 in August.

"We're probably at 95 percent," he said.

Lewis County budgeted $550,000 for its shared fuel depot, and most of that is spent.

"Our original fuel budget will be gone at the end of July," said Thomas M. Sweet, county highway superintendent.

Mr. Sweet expects to dip into the county's reserves to finish the year. The Jefferson County shortfall will be made up by spending less on other things in the highway budget and using reserves, Mr. Lawrence said. St. Lawrence County legislators are resisting the urge to subtract from the department's other costs.

"To even try to do what we want in paving, we can't take $500,000 out of highway," said Legislator Donald A. Peck, R-Gouverneur.

St. Lawrence County legislators have tossed out several sources: reserves, money budgeted for 2008 contingencies, highway paving and an untapped environmental cleanup fund with about $300,000.

The county has about $500,000 set aside in the budget for unexpected costs, but Mr. McNeil cautioned against using that money because he expects higher health insurance costs and wants money available to cover increases from the union contract that's being negotiated.

"We did not underbudget for fuel. Fuel overcame us," said Legislator Sallie A. Brothers, D-Norfolk.

Times staff writers Jude Seymour and Steve Virkler contributed to this report.