To The Editor,

Once again, a letter to the public is needed to rebut the accusations made by the recently appointed, non-elected Democrat member of the St. Lawrence County Legislature, Jason Clark.

First of all, the Republican County Legislators do not think the county is on the verge of collapse. However, the county’s finances are very, very tight. In our efforts to address this situation, last year the board (Democrats and Republicans) made a promise to you, the public, that, with the additional increase in sales tax, we would cap future property tax increases at 2% for five years. We, the Republicans, intend to keep that promise.

Secondly, in December 2006, the county had 24 million in its fund balance. Starting in January 2007, the Democrats have numerically controlled the board. They, the Democrats, have spent your fund balance down to a low of 3 million dollars at one point. Yes, Mr. Clark, it is your party’s, the Democrats, fault. Since 2011, the board has reduced, largely through retirements and attrition, the number of county employees by 150 individuals. Have you noticed any change in the quality of county services?

Thirdly, let’s address the issue of the county borrowing 10 million for 12 months versus 6 months. The county needs 5 to 6 million in each month to meet payroll and to pay our bills. County Treasurer, Kevin Felt, prepared a spreadsheet showing the board how they would be in “the red” by December 2014, and also be in a deficit for the months of Jan., Feb., May, July, and Aug. of 2015 without borrowing the money for the 12 month period. Obviously, the money was needed throughout the year to pay our debts on time.

Undeterred and unconvinced by the County Treasurer’s numbers, our finance chair, Fred Morrill, referred the board to his own numbers and calculations to make the case for borrowing for only 6 months. Mr. Morrill’s calculations were incorrect. County Treasurer, Kevin Felt, politely pointed out to the board that Mr. Morrill had included as cash flow a $1,000,000 bond for highway equipment and a $2.9 million bond for energy performance in his analysis. Bonds are not cash flow, nor are they available for use as cash flow. Instead of acknowledging his error and apologizing, Mr. Morrill blustered ahead stating that the County Treasurer’s numbers must be wrong.

The circus continued with Mr. Clark, incredulously asking why the County Treasurer had not included in his calculations, the future monies from the potential Brasher, Massena tribal land swap. Yet the resolution, a Memorandum of Understanding, concerning this tribal land swap had not even passed our board. And Franklin County, a required partner to this agreement, is still negotiating with the tribe.

We are a long way off from receiving any money, if ever. County Treasurer, Kevin Felt, rightly refused to include Mr. Clark’s “pending revenue stream” in his projections.

Mr. Clark wants you to ask the Republicans why they “threw away $50,000 of your hard earned tax dollars”. We didn’t. County Treasurer, Kevin Felt, works with the numbers every day and pays the bills every day. It’s his job, his profession, and he wants to see the county on firm financial ground. We took his advice and believed his numbers. Twelve out of 15 Legislators, 80%, voted for the 12 months of borrowing.

Hard earned tax dollars? Ask any Democrat Legislator why they continue to spend $60,000 a year plus expenses for a lobbyist when we have three State Senators and four Assemblymen representing St. Lawrence County in Albany.

Ask any Democrat legislator where the $20,000 went which was authorized under the guise of “economic development” for the furtherance of the fictional rooftop highway, I-98.

We need County Legislators who are rational and committed to putting the interests of the county ahead of their own personal agendas. We need County Legislators who are willing to base decision making on what is best for the county, and not be beholden to their political party’s directives.

In District 12 this November, please vote for John Burke. Mr. Burke represents a mature, rational, and reasonable choice who will work cooperatively and conscientiously with Legislators, County Administration, and Department Heads for the betterment of this beautiful county.

County Legislator Kevin Acres, Madrid