Letter to the Editor - About Historical Society, Gathering Place

For almost two years I have been writing about the murky relationship that exists between Schoharie County and the Schoharie County Historical Society. (SCHS)   This relationship includes the County taxpayers footing the bill for almost all the Historical Society’s operating expenses, with county employees serving as professional staff for the Society. There is also the conflict of interest question concerning County Officers serving on the Board of this County funded not for profit, including acting as the Society’s Treasurer.

None of my questions posed in writing to the County Administrator, the County Board of Supervisors Chairman,  Committee Chairperson Sandra Manko, nor the Historical Society have ever been responded to…and it's going on two years.

The 990 tax filings of the SCHS show governmental support for the period 2013-2022,  (ie: Schoharie County) totaling $2,492,227.  The current County budget  funding for “ Historic operations” all of which is related to the Stone Fort and SCHS is $289,507, including professional staff and a separate line item of $50,000 for  Historical Society support. (By the way, the SCHS 990 tax filing will report the entire $289,507 as governmental support).

I have been following the media coverage of recent County Budget issues,  and funding of the Gathering Place with more than passing interest..

I wasn’t surprised to read that the Sharon Town Board declined a funding request from the Gathering Place.  But, I was surprised to read  Supervisor Manko’s quote:”We don’t typically give to non-profits. Because we can’t give to them all, it's best not to give to any.”   Ms. Manko has been a Supervisor since 2009, during which time the County provided close to $3 million in support to the Schoharie County Historical Society, a not for profit.  Ms. Manko serves as chair of the County Board Committee overseeing historic operations.  Don’t the Town of Sharon taxpayers also pay county Taxes?   

I am not at all surprised to see that the County is experiencing budget issues, and I’m pretty sure most county residents, including members of the Board of Supervisors, really don’t understand all that they are funding with the County taxpayers' tax dollars, and how little they are getting in return.

Almost two years and I’m  still waiting for answers.

John Osinski

Middleburgh