CANTON – St. Lawrence County legislators are asking the state for more federally funded heating assistance.

A resolution presented and passed at a finance committee meeting Monday says the Home Energy Assistance Program is too short and the amount of assistance available is insufficient to the needs of St. Lawrence County.

According to the resolution the more than 9,000 regular home energy assistance program benefits and 3,000 emergency home assistance program benefits helped St. Lawrence County residents heat their home.

“Customers who received regular fuel benefits in November were not eligible to apply for an emergency fuel benefit until Jan. 2, and HEAP customers who needed electricity to run their fun1aces and received a disconnect notice also were not be able to apply for the emergency benefit until Jan. 2,” the resolution said.

“The consequence of inadequate HEAP funding on people who are without adequate income and heat is a potential safety issue for the large number of people who struggle more than ever to make it through winters in St. Lawrence County.”

The resolution also points out that St. Lawrence County is one of the northern most counties in state and “as such has endured a tremendous winter increasing demand and staggering levels of need.”

The resolution requests more funding to meet the needs of county residents.

The resolution will be forwarded to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and all state and U.S. representatives of St. Lawrence County.