By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County’s second-quarter sales tax take is down by 2.17 percent over last year and about 3.3 percent for the half-year total

The county received $13.73 million between May and July, according to an emailed response from St. Lawrence County Deputy Treasurer Renee Cole.

While that’s not good news, it’s better than the first quarter, which runs February to April, when the county saw a 4.59 percent decrease from the previous year.

For the half-year total the county’s sales tax collection is down by 3.3 percent.

On a positive note the county anticipated the decrease in sales tax after last year’s take came in well below the $58 million it had budgeted in 2015.

This year the county only budgeted to receive $55,100,000.

In an emailed response Cole said the economy is flat, the Canadian continues to be weak, and fuel prices remain low. And while the lower fuel price may be good for traveler’s wallets, Cole said that adds up to low sales tax takes for the county.

Cole said a recent conference call from the Office of the State Comptroller indicated that conditions are pointing toward as slight uptick for the second half of the year. However, Cole said she remains cautious about that possibility.

While overall the state may see better sales tax takes, Cole said the reduced sales tax from low gas prices has hit St. Lawrence County hardest in the state.

Cole said things may turn around but as it stands right now, if the county’s second half is equal to the first, the county will come in $2.5 million under budget.