Put your money where your mouth is!

Given the chance to do just that you will see that the Majority Caucus of the Oswego County Legislature failed to do so.

At the full Legislative meeting on July 10^th, I made a motion to amend resolution HS-1.

Resolution HS-1 was a resolution setting a FEE SCHEDULE for the usage of Champions Fields in Oswego. If you didn’t know Champions Fields are located behind the County Public Safety building on Churchill Road. It is a collection of Baseball fields. Recently fully renovated with ARAP funds, new astro turf, parking lot, etc.

The FEE SCHEDULE being presented included a fee for usage by Oswego County Youth groups, Oswego County Adult groups, and Out of County groups.

My motion was to remove the fees for Oswego County Youth groups. I stated that these groups parents pay Oswego County taxes and therefore shouldn’t have to pay to use an Oswego County facility paid for with Oswego County tax dollars.

This Legislative body has in the past put forth the inclination that they support all YOUTH groups. They support Camp Hollis, Camp Zerbe, 4-H, etc. . Always saying how supporting the youth of Oswego County is high on their list.

 I support these groups and supporting them is high on my list also.

My contention has always been a FEE is nothing more than another form of a TAX.

Therefor a FEE for the usage of a County facility is nothing more than adding another TAX to the already TAXED, Oswego County Taxpayers.

The parents of these YOUTH GROUPS have already paid their TAXES they shouldn’t have to pay again.

Now this same Majority caucus had no problem voting to give themselves a raise the past number of years. This past year they gave themselves a total raise of $12,000(not each but total), they did this without blinking an eye.

They brought forth several reasons in opposition to my amendment to remove the FEE for the usage by OSWEGO COUNTY YOUTH GROUPS.

I asked for a roll call vote on the amendment and the resolution HS-1. I wanted to let the people know just where their elected officials stood on this issue.

Well, no surprise to me they all voted NO on my amendment without blinking an eye.

Then again to no surprise they all again, without blinking an eye , voted YES to set the FEE schedule that included the OSWEGO COUNTY YOUTH GROUPS.

During my presentation of my amendment, I stated, “Put your money where your mouth is” and vote YES to my amendment.

So again, the Majority Caucus has proven they can “Talk the Talk but they won’t Walk the Walk”.

Frank Castiglia Jr.

Oswego County Legislator 25^th District

Minority Leader

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