Windfall coming from state coffers

Robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn't sound so bad if you're Paul.

That's why local government officials in Potter and Cameron counties are in a celebratory mood these days.

A massive infusion of cash will be flowing into the county, township and school district coffers this year as the state triples its "in lieu of taxes" payments. Because state-owned land is taxexempt, each local taxing body gets a per-acre payment every year.

That figure has been 40 cents for several years, but it's being boosted to $1.20 each for the county, township and school district where the state land is located.

In Potter County, where there are nearly 300,000 acres of state land, an additional $714,000 will be arriving this year, to be divided among the taxing bodies.

Cameron County, with about 154,000 acres, will see an additional $370,000.

Revenue that has been flowing into the state from licensed casinos was earmarked for several purposes, one of which was property tax relief. The state announced last week that the gaming account had reached the point where the money could be released to counties, school districts and municipalities.