MALONE -- Franklin County approved $1.14 million in sponsorship funding for North Country Community College for the coming fiscal year.

There was little comment in passing the spending plan, except from Legislature Chairman Guy "Tim" Smith (D-Fort Covington), who said it was "a good grassroots budget, and they did a good job" formulating the proposal.

Interim College President Fred Smith was on hand for the vote Thursday and gave the thumbs up" signal to the County Legislature when the unanimous decision was made.

Essex County, which is an equal financial sponsor of the college, approved its appropriation Monday.

North Country's overall budget is $12,775,000, with each county contributing $1,140,000.

The money will be divided, with $75,000 going toward a capital-improvement fund and $1,065,000 for operating costs.

OTHER ACTION

At the same meeting, legislators:

Set a public-hearing date of Thursday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m. for comments on a proposed local law to increase the fees the County Clerk's Office can charge for recording documents. The hearing will be held in the fourth-floor Legislative Chambers at the County Courthouse.

Transferred $115,000 to the Highway Department to cover the anticipated expense of purchasing diesel fuel until the end of the year.

County Manager James Feeley did a survey of past, current and anticipated fuel-oil and propane usage and believes the courthouse fuel needs will cost about $70,640 for the next six months; the Catherine Street annex, $11,400; and the Nursing Home, about $60,000.

He said fuel was $1.81 a gallon in June 2007 and $2.20 per gallon at mid season last year. This year, fuel is $4.20 a gallon.

Amended the amount of recreation and youth-services money that will be awarded to groups, due to Gov. David Paterson's order to cut spending by 2 percent.

The Saranac Lake Youth Center will lose $137; the Women of the Moose Softball League, $238; North Star Behavioral Health, $119; the Village of Malone Juvenile Aid Bureau, $116; Youth Bureau, $680; and youth projects, $1,379.

draymo@pressrepublican.com