Separate recent reports in the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times have detailed how the village of Waddington is seeking assistance from other municipalities in order to help pay for the Bassmaster Elite Series coming to the riverside village later this summer.
On Monday, the Finance Committee of the St. Lawrence County legislature voted 7-6 in favor of spending $30,000 to offset the cost of the event, which is scheduled for Aug. 23-26 in Waddington. The move will be put to a vote of county legislators on March 5, the newspaper reported.
Last week, the paper repoted the Massena Town Council authorized a $2,500 donation to Waddington to help cover some of the costs. Last year, Massena gave $5,000 to Waddington.
At Monday's meeting, the report stated some lawmakers objected to the expenditure and asked Waddington mayor Janet Otto Cassada if the village would contribute more on its own since it has experienced an increase in sales tax revenue and received additional funds from the New York Power Authority.
The paper reported St. Lawrence County contributed $75,000 in 2013 when the Elite Series first visited Waddington. It was not asked for additional funding last year.
"The bank is dry. We don't have the money," said Finance Committee Chairman Joe Timmerman. "We're struggling and scraping. We're asking our employees and our department heads to come up with ways to be more efficient. We've got major financial problems."
