Rate Increases Spark Concerns Among Fixed Income Residents and Landlords

FULTON – During the August 6 Fulton City Council Meeting, Frank Castiglia spoke out against the rate increases during the open comment period and felt that these numbers were more than just figures—they were a matter of financial survival.

Frank emphasized that individuals living on fixed incomes or struggling to make ends meet are already stretched thin. With limited resources to allocate to basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare, even a small rate increase can be a heavy burden. These individuals face significant challenges in affording basic needs, let alone the added expense of rising rates.

Mr. Castiglia expressed frustration about the timing of the announcement of the rate increase. Despite being a crucial aspect of the proposal, the information was only made available on the website at 10 am on August 6. He said it should have been available on the City’s website at 7 pm the evening of August 5.  This lack of transparency undermines the public’s ability to engage meaningfully with the proposed changes and is particularly concerning.

Oswego County Today spoke with Councilor Audrey Avery. Residents commented that the city should use a private vendor to collect trash. During the meeting, she mentioned that the city had explored the possibility of outsourcing trash collection to a third-party vendor; we asked her to clarify her statements.

During Mayor Michael’s tenure. However, it was discovered that this would likely result in higher trash rates. Additionally, 12 cross-trained employees for various roles would face potential layoffs if the city were to outsource this trash pickup. It is important to note that, years ago, the city once had 58 employees on its payroll but now only has 28. If the 12 employees mentioned earlier were to be laid off, only 16 would be left to handle the city’s needs.

Furthermore, the city had to renegotiate its contract with the CSEA union, even though it wasn’t set to expire until December 2025. Several CDL drivers were offered higher-paying jobs elsewhere, which prompted the city to take action to retain them. The city’s proactive measures, such as offering CDL training at no cost to employees or the city and increasing pay rates to retain current employees, demonstrate its commitment to its workforce. However, the financial impact of renegotiating the contract means that the city has to raise sewer, trash, and water rates to cover the resulting deficit.