Snowmobile enthusiasts say the state government is going to raid their funds. Governor Paterson wants $1 million from the snowmobile fund to help close the budget gap, but as our Sarah Hagen tells us, the state isn't getting a penny without a fight from the North Country.

CANTON, N.Y. -- St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie said, "I think snowmobilers, along with a lot of New Yorkers, are saying it is another broken promise by government."

That "broken promise" -- pay more for registration and the state will invest the money back into the sport.

Ritchie said, "At the eleventh hour, the governor has decided to change that and divert 20 percent of $1 million back into the state's general fund."

Ritchie started a Facebook page called "Stop the Snowmobile Fund Raid." In just two days, the group has nearly 1,100 fans. But the fight has gone beyond the internet. Leaders in Albany are taking a stand, too.

State Senator Joe Griffo said, "This is users' money. These people are paying this money to be put back into the trails. This is where I say this makes no sense. It is nonsense."

While many are concerned about losing 20 percent of the snowmobile fund, a spokesperson from the Division of the Budget says the state is entitled to that money and more.

NYS Division of the Budget Spokesperson Jessica Bassett said, "The state has never used 30 percent of the funds, which is the statutorily allowed amount. The million dollars that the executive budget proposes transferring, it wouldn't amount to 30 percent this year either."

But to many, this sounds like déjà vu. A similar attempt was tried by Paterson in 2008.

Griffo said, "The first time he pleaded ignorance and we went there and educated him, I went there personally and I get it, now, he says, it makes sense. And now all of a sudden it rears its ugly head again."

Those in defense of the proposal say the current $8.2 billion deficit has changed the economic game.

Bessett said, "We are in the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression and it is a very different situation we were in two years ago."

The Division of the Budget says their promise hasn't been broken and the $1 million will be used to reimburse the state for "snowmobile-type" expenses.