While Lewis was the lone area county to see a drop in second-quarter sales tax receipts from the same period last year, rising energy costs and economic uncertainty have officials throughout the tri-county region wary of future prospects.
"I'm very concerned about where we are in our economy," St. Lawrence County Treasurer Robert O. McNeil said. "With energy costs where they are, people must not be spending on other things."
"I think people are trying to cut back," Lewis County Treasurer Vicki A. Roy said. "They're being more conservative in their traveling. I know we are."
Lewis County saw a 5.1 percent drop in second-quarter receipts, based on sales figures from March through May. The county collected $2.3 million, down $123,168 from last year.
The county's year-to-date receipts are at $4.19 million, down $22,212 from last year.
While sales figures are typically higher in the second half of the year, the county will be in jeopardy of not reaching its budgeted sales tax revenue amount — $9.05 million — if the trend continues, Mrs. Roy said.
"I would say we'd be lucky if we made our budget," she said.
Lewis County's 2007 receipts came in about $344,000 over budget.
The quarter brought mixed news for St. Lawrence County. Revenue is up almost 6 percent from the same three months in 2007, but the year-to-date change is a little more sobering. The county's share is only $286,000 more than what was collected during the first six months of 2007.
"For the year, it's really flat," Mr. McNeil said. "I think we're going to make budget, but I really don't believe we're going to be much above. In other years, we've been a million or a million and a half above."
The county has an informal hiring freeze because financial officials expect skyrocketing health insurance and other costs to put spending over budget.
Jefferson County took in $15.85 million during the second quarter; $627,275 more than it collected over the same period last year. The county's share is about $7.45 million, bringing its total this year to $14,427,792. It budgeted $30 million.
Legislator Scott A. Gray, the Legislature's Finance and Rules chairman, said the county historically collects 55 percent of its total sales tax revenue in the second half.
"If we stay on pace, then we will finish the year approximately $1.4 million ahead of budget," Mr. Gray told fellow lawmakers. "But as we all know, the economic forecast continues to weaken."
Nancy D. Brown, Jefferson County treasurer, preached similar restraint in her message to administrators.
"Considering the changes in the state of the economy nationally, this (increase) could be a reflection on the growth of our local economy and the continuing benefits of the military presence on Fort Drum," she noted. "However, many factors come into play here and caution is still warranted."
The city of Watertown, which receives a 24 percent share, took in $3.8 million this quarter. While that's up 6.33 percent from its $3.58 million take during this period last year, the increase is partly a result of a change in the distribution formula. The city had a 23.5 percent share last year.
