Ashe County leaders were among the first to learn Friday that falling state revenues will likely give the General Assembly a deficit of $1.5 billion.

The word came from President Pro Tempore of the Senate Marc Basnight in remarks made to government and community leaders at Jefferson Landing.

The state’s top ranking senator was in town to support the candidacy of Sen. Steve Goss who represents Ashe, Alexander, Watauga and Wilkes counties.

“We are facing a big hole,” Basnight told representatives of Jefferson, West Jefferson, Ashe County.

The event was organized by Goss and Richard Blackburn, chairman of the Ashe County Board of Commissioners. Also in attendance was Rep. Cullie Tarleton and Arnold Lakey, Ashe County’s representative on the State Highways Commission.

Highways were a major concern for the crowd.

“We understand the importance of 221,” Basnight said. Goss had driven with him Friday morning, making their way to the gathering.

He was referring to plans to widen the highway that leads to U.S. 421 offering four-lane access east and west across the state.

“It is easy to imagine a big truck in distress along that route,” he said. “We also understand the commercial importance of it.”

He said that Goss and Tarleton have both been supportive of the county in the efforts in the General Assembly. Specifically he pointed to a last-minute effort that brought state dollars to the county to plan airport improvements. “Steve was in my office the last day, in the final hours of the budget. He said you needed it. He convinced me.”

The drive toward an extended runway and safety improvements at the airport is touted by county officials as an economic development tool, making the county accessible to corporate jets and jet-setting tourists.

It is declining sales tax revenue in the recent economic downturn that leaves state coffers shallow, Basnight said. People are buying less and taxes on sales are less. Income taxes are down also because jobs are drying up.

“We have better times when things can balloon and times when things need to get leaner,” he said after addressing the crowd of 50 locals attending the gathering. “We are going to have to do with less. We all need to come together and work together.”

Education funding stood out as a leading item that Basnight and other Democrats in the room wanted to protect.

Later in the day while visiting High South Realty, Tarleton told the Post he will be trying to protect education. “It is the most important thing we do,” Tarleton said