County may use casino cash in budget

CANTON — St. Lawrence County legislators took the first step Monday toward using revenue from a casino gaming compact to underwrite their tax-heavy budget.

Legislators spent two hours at a budget workshop debating whether the county's approximately $1 million share of the state's compact with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe should be spent on economic development projects or underwriting operating costs already in the budget.

The casino revenue, which state law dictates must be spent on economic development and the treatment of gambling addictions, has been a prime target for underwriting related costs in the proposed 2009 budget. The budget has an 8 percent tax increase. Cutting $1 million would save about 2.5 percent on the tax levy.

The session dragged as legislators alleged that a list of spending priorities was politically motivated and later sparred over who should decide how the money is spent. They eventually agreed to yank $200,000 from the casino fund and spend it on the county Chamber of Commerce, which is funded through bed tax collections. The move lowers the tax levy about half of a percent.

Conservative lawmakers criticized the 13 projects that a legislative economic development committee recommended for funding. The list includes removing invasive weeds on Black Lake, extending high-speed communications to the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority industrial park and extending the length of the Massena International Airport runway.

"It's really, in my mind, just a list of member items," said Legislator Peter W. FitzRandolph, D-Canton.

He charged that the geographically spread projects were picked to ensure legislative approval. He singled out Legislature Vice Chairman Frederick S. Morrill, who formerly served as co-chairman of the St. Lawrence Valley Air Task Force and is one of the heads of the economic development committee that made recommendations.

"I think, to have a member of the air committee put $200,000 in for that is indicative of the problem," Mr. FitzRandolph said.

The airport proposal would extend the runway by 400 feet to be 6,000 total feet, a distance suitable for 100-passenger planes. The region is currently served by nine-seat passenger planes. The proposal is envisioned as a cooperative effort among the county, the tribe and towns of Massena and Brasher, both of which receive a share of casino revenue.

After much debate over the airport project, County Administrator Karen M. St. Hilaire told legislators that it's unlikely that the project will receive the necessary federal priority to begin in 2009. Legislators voted 12-3 to use the $200,000 on the chamber.

There were varying opinions on who should decide how the casino revenue is spent. Sensing a legislative battle, the county Industrial Development Agency volunteered to make recommendations.

"One thing that isn't going to help is 15 legislators deciding how to divide it up because it'll be a bloody mess," said Legislator Thomas A. Nichols, R-Oswegatchie.

Legislators made no decision and agreed to continue the discussion Nov. 5.