Shifting state and federal funding for social services, healthcare, and emergency aid requires careful planning and healthy reserves to prevent tax increases”

Rick Perkins

BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

CANTON — St. Lawrence County District 7 Legislator Rick Perkins is seeking re-election, pointing to his experience in county government, improved county finances and investments in infrastructure as reasons voters should return him to office.

Perkins, who has represented District 7 since 2015, said his priorities remain protecting taxpayers, maintaining essential services and ensuring rural communities receive the resources they need.

“I have represented District 7 on the SLC Board of Legislators since 2015, serving as Services Committee Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Negotiations Chairman for seven union contracts,” Perkins said.

He has also served on committees dealing with health insurance, labor relations and Family Court. Perkins holds a degree in business management and finance from Clarkson University and works full time at J.E. Sheehan Contracting. He said his lifelong residency in the area has given him firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing rural communities, including harsh winters, limited services, aging infrastructure and the need to keep taxes manageable.

Perkins said he emphasizes listening to constituents and working collaboratively to find practical solutions.

“My top priority remains protecting taxpayers while delivering essential services,” he said, pointing to responsible budgeting, maintaining reserves and carefully evaluating major expenditures as key parts of that approach.

Perkins said the county has made significant progress in stabilizing its finances since he took office. He said the county inherited a negative fund balance of roughly $3 million, borrowed as much as $12 million annually to meet payroll and paid about $250,000 a year in interest and late fees.

Through what he described as disciplined budgeting, the county reduced long-term liabilities, built reserves and lowered the true-value tax rate to its lowest level since 1983, he said.

Perkins said maintaining that financial progress will become increasingly important as the county faces uncertainty over state and federal funding and rising costs associated with government mandates.

“Shifting state and federal funding for social services, healthcare, and emergency aid requires careful planning and healthy reserves to prevent tax increases,” he said.

He said he intends to continue working with fellow legislators, the county administrator and department heads to keep the tax rate as low as possible while making necessary investments in infrastructure and public services.

Perkins said the county has also made progress on infrastructure, including major renovations to the Public Safety Complex, paving more than 100 additional miles of road beyond the normal annual total and upgrading emergency medical services communications towers.

He cited improvements in Potsdam, along with ongoing work in Star Lake and Cranberry Lake, as examples of efforts to improve emergency communications across the county.

Maintaining roads and bridges remains a concern, particularly in rural communities, Perkins said. He acknowledged that ensuring remote towns receive equitable resources requires continued attention and better coordination with local governments.

“We must improve coordination with town governments, prioritize roads and bridges in outlying areas, and keep county services accessible to residents farther from Canton,” he said.

Perkins also pointed to the county's Multi-Use Recreational Trail System as an investment that supports both recreation and local economic activity. The system now offers more than 130 miles of trails for ATV and UTV riding, hiking, biking and snowmobiling, he said.

As the trail system marks its 20th anniversary, Perkins said additional connections are needed to complete a route extending from Lewis County through St. Lawrence County and into Franklin County.

He said the network provides recreational opportunities while bringing business to communities along the trails.

Despite the county's progress, Perkins said several challenges remain, including access to health care, public safety, employment opportunities and the cost of living in rural areas.

Residents in rural towns often face long trips to see specialists and limited access to local providers, while mental health and substance abuse services remain areas of concern, he said.

Perkins said the county must support local hospitals and emergency medical services while advocating for broader solutions at the state level to address the needs of the North Country.

He also identified staffing, facilities, training and equipment at the county correctional system as important issues, saying the safety of correction officers and inmates depends on adequate resources.

Economic development presents additional challenges, Perkins said. Limited job opportunities, incomplete broadband coverage and high electricity and transportation costs can make it difficult for local businesses to grow and for younger residents to remain in the area.

He said addressing those issues requires careful spending, advocacy with state and federal officials and solutions tailored to rural communities.

Perkins also highlighted his work on firearms-related issues as part of his record in office. He said he supports the Second Amendment and worked with County Attorney Stephen Button and other legislators on resolutions opposing state restrictions, including the Concealed Carry Improvement Act.

Perkins said he also supported efforts to remove certain pistol-permit carrying restrictions and improve the local permitting process. He credited the Sheriff's Office's assumption of responsibility for background checks with helping reduce wait times for many applicants from more than 18 months to about three months.

As he seeks another term, Perkins said he remains grateful for the opportunity to represent Colton, Hopkinton, Parishville, Piercefield and Pierrepont.

“Representing Colton, Hopkinton, Parishville, Piercefield, and Pierrepont has been an honor and I remain committed to working hard for them every day,” he said.

Perkins said he wants to continue building on the county's financial progress while addressing infrastructure needs and maintaining essential services without placing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers.

“Local government works best when it stays close to the people,” Perkins said. “I will remain accessible, listen carefully, and put our rural communities’ interests first.”