County cleanup fund raided

CANTON — An environmental cleanup fund was raided Monday to cover fuel overruns despite some second thoughts.

St. Lawrence County legislators at Monday's meeting voted 14-1 to use $100,000 from the cleanup fund and $200,000 in motor vehicle surcharges toward replenishing the Highway Department's tanked fuel budget. No one objected to the DMV fees — the money is considered gravy because it comes from downstate auto dealers — but several lamented dipping into the $323,101 cleanup account that has yet to be used.

"This is what gets the state in trouble," said David W. Forsythe, R-Lisbon, who cast the dissenting vote. "This is what gets a lot of places in trouble."

The Highway Department budgeted $650,000 for fuel costs but rising diesel and gas prices have sapped the account. Departments in Jefferson and Lewis counties are in similar situations and are wrestling with the expected shortfall.

"Unless we want to stop the trucks and keep people in the shop twiddling their thumbs, we need fuel," said Legislator Sallie A. Brothers, D-Norfolk.

The environmental fund was created in November with profits from the delinquent-tax auction. Use of the fund was stalled for months while legislators hammered out usage guidelines. Supporters said at the time that the fund must be carefully guarded or it would be raided during a fiscal bind.

That time is apparently now, as the county begins putting together the first parts of the 2009 budget amid static revenues and an unofficial freeze on new jobs.

DMV revenues have skyrocketed since fall 2006, when County Clerk Patricia A. Ritchie began soliciting downstate dealers for vehicle registration work. The county keeps 12.7 percent of transactions. The effort has netted the county $489,000. That money goes into general reserves.

A few lawmakers urged against dipping into the environmental fund early in the 20-minute discussion but ultimately caved in after hearing staff has no alternative sources.

"I wish I had a pot of money I could pull it out of," said Robert O. McNeil, county treasurer. "In past years, sales tax has grown at a steady clip. This year sales tax is flat."

Second-quarter sales tax collection is expected to be reported by July 15.

An attempt to remove the environmental money and put only the $200,000 in DMV fees into the fuel budget was defeated shortly after Highway Superintendent William E. Dashnaw estimated the amount would last no more than two months. He asked in late June for $500,000 to make it to the end of the year.

"I've got a news flash: He needs fuel tomorrow," said Legislator Thomas A. Nichols, R-Oswegatchie. "He doesn't have authorization to put fuel in his vehicles this week."

Legislators did not discuss how to cover the expected $200,000 shortfall.

"If we're hoping things are going to get better or we're going to find money, I don't see any of those things happening," said Legislator Peter W. FitzRandolph, D-Canton.