Parking Meters and Pay Public Restrooms Next!

by Contributor | June 3, 2016 1:09 pm

To The Editor:
Last year, taxes went up. This year, fees are going up.

We must ask ourselves if this is a means of helping the revitalization of the city or just another straw on our backs.

Fees are just another form of a tax.

Fees for improving your house in any shape or form may start to cost you more.

If you want to express your feelings go to the public hearing on June 7.

Also “use” fees may also be going up; if you want to use any city owned pavilion, etc.

The only fee I believe should go up is the Rental Permit Fee.

I have expressed that in the past.

This time I’m going to go a little bit further. The fee could be $600 for a five-year permit.

Now there should be discounts for owner occupied rental property.

Let’s say $100 discount. A $75 discount if the owner lives in the city and can be contacted 24 hours a day seven days a week.

A $50 discount if there is a manager on the premises to handle noise and nuisance calls.

Also discounts for multiple units, that one would have to be worked out.

This would not only increase the city’s bank account but help control the rental problems in the city.

At least 30% of rental properties in the city are some form of Section 8 housing so we would be getting our own monies back.

All of the other “fees” are double dipping.

If you improve your home your assessment goes up.

So not only do you have to pay an increased permit fee your taxes will also go up.

Double dipping.

So I say it won’t be long before they start making us pay for parking in any city owned parking lot.

They have already started with a two-hour parking limit in parts of downtown (now that is word from the past).

Next would be pay Blue Boys at city sponsored events.

Up Next!

The lake project we all have been asked to contribute to and have seen grant money obtained by Senator Ritchie.

It is my feelings and I have expressed this before.

I feel they will start charging us to use the lake when it is ready.

How else are they going to pay for the upkeep and manpower?

Just keep this in mind when they bring that up.

It was our tax dollars and our donations that paid for the dredging.

Frank Castiglia Jr.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/parking-meters-and-pay-public-restrooms-next/

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