Believe it or not, there may be a side benefit to the high gas prices everyone has been paying. Onondaga County government is making more money in sales tax revenue from gas prices than anyone anticipated. The sale tax revenue increase is one of the main reasons the county is enjoying an unexpected $13 million windfall.

On Friday, members of the Onondaga County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee met to consider what to do with the extra money.

A recent audit of county finances found that the $13-million dollar surplus is over and above the $61-million dollar reserve fund that had already been budgeted. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Casey Jordan feels it should be returned to the taxpayers. "Taxpayers... took quite a hit this year in terms of increases in property taxes so I think it should be returned to the taxpayers and reflected in their real property tax bills." Jordan told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon. Jordan says any tax reduction may not happen until next year.

Over the last few years, lawmakers have been down-sizing and eliminating positions in anticipation of deficits.