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Highway engineer outlines contingency options after governor suspends gas tax receipts
Summary
Chip Porter told the County Council the June suspension of gas tax receipts could last up to four months and said the governor intends to refund matching local receipts; he recommended options such as a temporary loan from Major Moves or the Rainy Day Fund and advised continuing 2026 projects while monitoring cash flow.
Steuben County Highway Engineer Chip Porter updated the County Council on the county’s options following the governor’s temporary suspension of gas tax receipts. Porter summarized the current understanding and proposed contingency steps.
Porter prefaced his remarks with, “What we know now –” and then listed three items: that June could be the first of up to four months with no gas tax receipts for the highway fund; that the governor intends to refund lost local matching receipts; and that the Legislature plans to address refunds by Jan. 5, 2027, so receipts could appear by late January 2027. He proposed options including a temporary loan from Major Moves or use of the Rainy Day Fund, and recommended proceeding with the Highway’s scheduled 2026 plans while monitoring funds and returning with additional appropriation requests if needed.
Council members discussed treating the disruption as a “rainy day” event and asked the Highway Department to continue planned work and notify the council if 2026 funding ran low. No formal appropriation or loan was approved at the June 9 meeting; the council directed staff to monitor cash flow and bring specific requests if required.
What happens next: Highway staff will continue scheduled 2026 work but prepare appropriation or loan requests if receipts do not return or temporary funding is needed.
