BEEKMANTOWN -- It may have been downhill the past few years, but Beartown Ski Area Inc. might get a lift soon.

"As you can well imagine, we're very concerned about Beartown because it's part of Beekmantown, the heart and soul," said Town Councilwoman Sydney Sue Garrant.

Garrant recently arranged a meeting between the Town Council and the Beartown Board of Directors to talk about Ski Area finances.

"The situation is not very good," said Beartown Board of Directors President Tim Howley. "We are significantly in debt, at this point.

"One of the things that we have had over the years that we no longer have is a lot of help from the state. That was very, very helpful to us."

The late Sen. Ron Stafford had been influential in securing grants for the non-profit Beartown Ski Area.

In the wake of diminishing support, expenses have not gone the same way.

"Insurance is a very big part of it," said Howley.

Liability insurance for the 99-acre facility is just as much as a mountain making $50,000 in annual revenue. Beartown makes between $25,000 and $40,000, Howley said. Last year, its liability insurance cost $12,000.

And that's just one of the expenses for the Ski Area.

Membership fees assist in covering expenses but aren't enough, Howley said.

Fickle North Country winters don't help, either. Because of late snowfall in 2006, the Ski Area did not open at all, but it was able to celebrate its 50th season in 2007.

To offset the costs, the Board of Directors has looked for more steady streams of income, including allowing a radio tower on the property. Once it's constructed, a monthly stream of revenue, even in the off-season, will help, Howley said. The construction work could also take care of some landscaping needed at the site.

Town Supervisor Dennis Relation said a town project may help Beartown financially.

The town is planning an extension of its Spellman Road/Route 9 Water District.