Broome County legislators have turned down an offer to lease their drilling rights to a natural gas company.
Legislators voted 10-3 Thursday against the offer from Denver-based Inflection Energy, which would have given the county $7.8 million up front and 20 percent royalties on any gas collected.
Four lawmakers did not vote due to a conflict of interest and two were absent.
Many legislators say they voted against the agreement because they want to wait until the Department of Environmental Conservation releases its report on gas drilling.
One of the most prominent supporters of the lease was Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala, who says she was disappointed with the decision. She believed the lease would have helped the county climb out of its budget hole.
